Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 7: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made under the young people's facilities and services fund; the success of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24947/08]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 51: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of applications for grants under the young people's facilities and services fund; the location of such grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24946/08]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 51 together.

The young people's facilities and services fund, YPFSF, aims to assist in the development of youth facilities, including sport and recreational facilities, and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. The objective of the fund is to attract "at risk" young people in disadvantaged areas into these facilities and activities and divert them away from the dangers of substance abuse. The target group for the fund is ten to 21 year olds who are marginalised through a combination of risk factors relating to family background, environmental circumstances, educational disadvantage and involvement in crime or drugs etc.

The fund operates in the 14 local drugs task force areas, 12 in Dublin, Bray and Cork, and in Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Carlow town. Following an announcement earlier this year, the fund will be extended to Arklow, Athlone, Dundalk and Wexford in the coming months. Since it was established in 1998, the Government has allocated over €150 million under the fund. Over €66 million has been provided for capital developments, which include the building, upgrading, fit-out and refurbishment of approximately 220 youth and community facilities in the different target areas. In 2008, current funding of the order of €17 million will be provided to support the employment of more than 350 youth and outreach workers, centre managers, sports development officers and administration staff.

In this context, the Deputy should note that 24 sports development officers are currently being supported under the fund in the designated areas, including two in Limerick following a recent proposal from the Limerick regeneration agencies. These officers use sport as a tool to engage young people in active recreation and leisure pursuits and facilities at the level to suit their needs. The Deputy should also note that 13 "Football in the Community" development officers are also being employed under the fund, including four recently announced posts for Limerick city. These posts are being co-funded by the FAI and, in the case of the nine posts in Dublin, by Dublin City Council. A call for the development of further capital facilities in the amount of €4 million was announced earlier this year. The young people's facilities and services fund development groups have submitted proposals for funding and these are under consideration at present.

Overall, I believe the fund has had a very positive impact on communities since it commenced nearly ten years ago. Over the years, the areas covered under the fund had been marked by a serious dearth of facilities and services and many of the clubs and community groups in those areas had traditionally not been able to access funding from other mainstream schemes to the same extent as more affluent areas.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Are the sports officers responsible to the local authorities or to the national organisations governing the particular sport involved, for example, soccer? Is the FAI the only national organisation that has a link to the provision of training officers? If so, why is this the case? Why do the national organisations governing rugby, GAA or otherwise not have an input into ensuring a variety of sports for youngsters?

Are there any RAPID areas that are not part of the local drugs task force areas and not in receipt of this funding? If so, will the Minister consider applications in this regard and are such RAPID areas entitled to make such applications?

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

On the first question, it is up to each national organisation as to how it gets involved. The FAI has embarked on this in its scheme. However, it would be wrong to send out the signal that others do not. I am aware that the GAA in Dublin has development officers. Probably as a result of the structure of the GAA, there is only one GAA club in my village whereas there are several soccer clubs. The GAA provides development officers who work with existing GAA clubs. While it is a different model, we should not indicate that it is only soccer that has provided this linkage. The officers are employed and work out of the local authorities rather than out of the FAI buildings.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

What of RAPID, for example, the scheme in Athy?

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It does not cover all of them.