John Bruton (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 276: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the inability of Kentstown accordion band of Duleek to gain funds by way of grants from his Department in view of the fact that its members are deemed ineligible due to the fact that they are amateurs; and the funds which are available to them from his Department. [3955/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The youth affairs section of my Department operates a number of funding schemes to support those providing youth work programmes and services in Ireland. This consists mainly of grant-in-aid assistance for national and major regional youth work organisations and the special projects for disadvantaged youth grant scheme.

Funding is not available to Kentstown accordion band, Duleek, as it would not come within the remit of these schemes. However, the youth affairs section also supports youth clubs at local level by way of its local youth club grant scheme. This scheme, which is administered by the local vocational education committees on behalf of my Department, provides once-off grants and is advertised locally on an annual basis. It would be open to Kenstown accordion band to apply to County Meath VEC for funding under this scheme.