Averil Power (Fianna Fail)

I appreciate that the Minister of State is here to represent the Minister and acknowledge that it is difficult for her to answer some of the more specific questions posed, but I urge her to talk to the Minister about them. While that was a good general response written by the Department in acknowledging the value of youth work, there was not a great deal in it about the Sphere 17 Regional Youth Service. It certainly will not provide any comfort for those in Darndale, Priorswood, Bonnybrook and Coolock who are worried about the continuation of their services. I would be a little concerned in that regard. Of course, it is important to have the correct policy frameworks and reviews in place. In fact, the Sphere 17 Regional Youth Service was one of the first to sign up to a new project in respect of a quality mark in evaluating youth services and is fully in favour of ensuring every euro is spent properly and in line with best practice.

The Minister of State mentioned a review. I would be surprised if it was finalised before the budgets are drawn up for next year. I would be concerned if it was a holding tactic or to be used as an excuse to cut staff numbers. Will the Minister of State ask the Minister if the funding for the City of Dublin Youth Service Board in 2012 and, in turn, for the Sphere 17 Regional Youth Service has been agreed to? It is only fair, if it has been agreed to, that they be made aware of this.

I note the Minister visited the service last week. She is a good and decent person who would want to help the sector. She needs to fight for it because, as I stated, cuts will have to be made somewhere. This would be a crazy place to make them, given all of the statistics we have available for the challenges being faced in Dublin 17. This is not the place to make cuts.