Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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21. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will develop along with an organisation (details supplied) a European youth centre in order to ensure that the potential of the centre is reached in the interest of national youth work development. [33872/16]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for her work in office to date. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs announced earlier this year €26 million in capital grants with a closing date for applications in May. Announcements on successful applications were made in August with the total moneys to be disbursed across two strands. In Kerry, we had €96,000 among Tralee, Listowel and Castleisland. The application from the centre in Killarney was refused. The Minister had visited the centre and that visit was very much appreciated. It was considered to be a new development for the purposes of the application, but this is not accurate as it is an ongoing project which is now taking on further importance as part of Ireland's commitment to the Council of Europe having been labelled as a European youth centre.

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department administered a capital funding scheme in 2016 for youth projects and services which was strictly limited to projects funded under a number of specific schemes. An application for capital funding was received from Kerry Diocesan Youth Service, KDYS, in respect of a European youth centre. Unfortunately, the application was found to be ineligible by the appraisal committee for the youth capital scheme 2016 to 2017 as KDYS is not in receipt of funding under any of the specified schemes. However, I am pleased to note that my Department provided funding of some €505,000 to KDYS in 2016 under other headings. These include funding for youth services under the special projects for youth scheme which supports projects that target young people who are disadvantaged, including young Travellers and young people who are out of school and at risk of drug or substance abuse or homelessness.

Work on the development of a new capital funding scheme for 2017 is under way. My Department is engaging with each education and training board's youth officer to identify the capital needs of the youth sector. I hope to announce details of this new capital scheme in the coming months. I will be happy to explore the options for funding the European youth centre proposal further with KDYS having regard to the resources available to my Department.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I thank the Minister. I appreciate her response because I know her heart is in the right place when it comes to the centre in Killarney. She took time out to go there in the summer and I appreciated her visit, as did everybody there. Given that the Department's capital grants fund was €26 million, it appears not all the moneys were disbursed. I estimate that there could be over €600,000 available. I appeal to the Minister to partner with KDYS to develop the European youth centre. The service is open to significant departmental input to ensure that the development of this centre goes ahead in the interest of national youth work. It does not take me to tell the Minister for her to understand the great work centres like this are doing not just in Killarney town but throughout Ireland. She is far better at this than me in that regard. It is very important work. I appreciate her personal interest in it and the genuine concern she has shown to date. The way I summarise it is to say the Minister should send as much money as she can to Killarney.

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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As the Deputy notes, I visited KDYS during the summer and was impressed by the commitment, enthusiasm and professionalism I saw. Unfortunately, it was not possible to fund the European youth centre project as it did not fall within the previously established criteria for the scheme. That in no way takes away from the value of the work being done there. I am anxious to work with KDYS to support its work in future. My Department will be happy to work with KDYS to identify any other potential means to support its important work. As I have indicated, I am pleased that we were able to provide funding of €505,000 under the special projects for youth scheme.

I must correct the Deputy. The capital funding available was €2.6 million, not €26 million. That may be where the answer to his question lies.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for that response. I appreciate her interest. All I ask is that she does her best for the centre which is doing Trojan work as she knows. I thank her for meeting with the manager and personnel working there who are giving great assistance to young people. Young people attending the centre and availing of the services there deserve great credit because they are engaging, working and participating in the schemes. We all really appreciate that. Ireland is in safe hands with the young people we have. All we need do is praise and encourage them while being positive in every way we can. The Minister as a member of Government and we as elected representatives must support them in every way we can. That is our job and what we are supposed to do.

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I remember almost every room I saw in that centre. It is an extraordinary place and I was very impressed with the leadership and management team and with what it is doing and how it is reaching out way beyond its base. It is unfortunate that in terms of the capital funding scheme for 2016 the centre did not fall within the criteria because it was not receiving funding in relation to the four or five schemes operating in the Department for which capital was specified in particular. The refusal was part of the rational thinking in order to put in place capital for previously identified policies and investments. Having said all that, we are moving into 2017 and are putting in place criteria as we move forward in relation to the next round of capital funding.