Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Some of the electoral divisions in County Laois, including places such as Mountrath and Mountmellick and parts of Portlaoise and other towns almost have the lowest income figures in the State per head of population. Twenty-eight grant applications were received for the €100,000 approved for the ETBs. The Department approved nine for targeted areas and the expansion of a further seven, but, as the Minister mentioned, County Laois was also unsuccessful in that regard. I am trying to point out to her that the local youth services, specifically Youth Work Laois, do tremendous work but that an awful lot of their time is spent in trying to access funding. I have been in and out of this issue, as have other public representatives. There is a huge stretch on the resources available to these services which are under huge pressure. I, therefode, ask the Minister and her officials to look again at this issue. Towards the end of the year public bodies, including Departments, sometimes have a little money left in the kitty. The Minister will start off next year with a new budget. I ask her to look at County Laois, in particular, to ensure there is a fair divvying up.

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