Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 24 together.

A key recommendation of the Value for Money and Policy Review of Youth Funding Programmes was that we should amalgamate four existing funding schemes into a single targeted youth funding scheme. To provide continued funding to the youth sector during this process, sample projects were established across the State. There are now 23 such sample projects approved since 2016, of which 20 are operational and a further three are to commence by 1 January next. Of the 23 projects, seven have involved the augmentation of existing projects to respond to identified needs. The three new projects approved are in Skerries, Carrigaline and County Longford. My reply includes a set of tables with details of the 23 sample projects, by year of first approval and by amount of funding provided in 2018 to date.

In determining the sample projects for funding, my Department has worked closely with the 16 education and training boards, all of which were invited to nominate locations within their catchment areas for new and augmented projects.End of Take

The 23 sample projects fall within ten of the education and training board, ETB, areas. The remaining six ETBs are involved in a process to identify the local needs of young people in these areas with a view to submitting applications for new or augmented services in 2019.

I am committed to supporting and reforming our youth services and I believe that the reformed system will bring substantial benefits to our young people.

New Sample Projects approved 2016

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