Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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5. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund; the funding to date; the range of facilities and services that benefitted; the employment achieved; her plans for the future of this fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14273/14]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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My question relates to the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund, its work to date and the Minister's future plans for it.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country. In 2014, funding of €50.5 million, including €750,000 capital funding, was made available. The funding supports some 400,000 young people, approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers - a very sizeable number - working in clubs throughout the country.

A range of projects are supported under the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund, mainly in areas where a significant drug problem exists. The focus is on the local drugs task force areas, which are in Dublin, Bray, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Carlow. The objective is to attract at-risk young people to divert them and give them alternative support. The fund aims to support marginalised young people in the ten to 21 year age group. The 242 projects supported by the fund typically employ two or more youth workers. In 2014, €18.4 million will be made available to these projects. In addition, funding of €1.15 million has been allocated to local drug task force projects in 2014.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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I acknowledge the work that has been done on the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund since its establishment in 1997. When it was established, I chaired the north inner city development group, which I still do, and I know the difference the fund has been making to facilities, employment and programmes. Amazing work is being done by many projects throughout the city. The fund grew out of the particular circumstances relating to drugs at the time. Drug dealers targeted particularly vulnerable groups and a ready-made population of disadvantaged people, including early school-leavers and the unemployed.

When the fund was established I, as chair of the development group in the north inner city, had to attend with the representatives of Dublin City Council and the City of Dublin Youth Service Board frequent meetings with the national assessment committee to account for our recommendations and funding. Funding was particularly geared towards those who were most at risk. While one might say that everyone is at risk, there are communities which are more at risk than others. We had to account for that and assure the assessment committee that the funding was going where it was most needed. The committee had a very important monitoring role. One of the Minister's replies to the committee has been to the effect that there is no need for it to meet as no further funding is coming. However, the committee has a very important monitoring role. I ask the Minister to agree to call a meeting of the committee to do its monitoring work.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy mentioned her own area where €1.7 million is being provided to projects in 2014 under both rounds of the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund. Under round 1, €750,000 is being provided, with a further €985,000 being provided under round 2. I have the details of individual allocations which I will forward to the Deputy.

I will correspond with the Deputy directly on the point she makes on the national assessment committee as I do not have the details to hand. I will be happy to take up the points in correspondence.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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The committee includes representatives of all the main players and is looking at the broad issue. It is vital that funding continues to go to where it is most needed. I am glad the Minister has made the commitment on that here.

Another aspect of the issue involves the approximately €6 million in funding that is being applied to positive mental health projects. There is a role for youth services in that area. I mentioned to the Minister previously that the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund at one time included a small grants fund for projects which needed a few hundred euro or €1,000 for a particular piece of work. It is all about the prevention and education pillar of the national drugs strategy. The other pillars of treatment, rehabilitation and supply control relate to matters after the event. We do not place sufficient emphasis on prevention and education, which is what this is about.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I can only agree with the Deputy. It is very important that where there is funding for mental health and young people, youth work groups and projects are involved and obtain support from it. There is no doubt that a hugely preventative role is played by all of these youth services, including Garda youth diversion programmes. The research we have demonstrates high levels of success and actual diversion from criminal activity through the Garda programmes. A focus on prevention and early intervention is critical. There are many projects, including the local youth club grants scheme, the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund, special projects for youth and local drugs task force projects. I assure the Deputy that all of these projects follow the line the Deputy has outlined on early intervention and support for young people, particularly those young people who are at risk.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The time for Priority Questions has expired and Other Questions will be taken in ordinary time.