David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of projects which received funding under the young people's facilities and services fund in 2002, 2003 and 2004; the number of young persons who benefited from activities funded in these years; the success of this fund in diverting at risk young persons away from substance misuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11465/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the young people's facilities and services fund, YPFSF, was set up in 1998 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 main aim 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 misuse. To date, approximately 450 facility and services projects are being supported under the fund.

As part of the first round of allocations of the YPFSF — 1999-2003, over €68 million was allocated to support the development of almost 300 facility and services projects. The vast majority of this funding was allocated to projects in local drugs task force areas. A further €15.7 million was allocated under the second round of the fund during the course of 2004 bringing the total allocation under the fund to date to almost €85 million.

Through the funding allocated under round II, a number of new dedicated youth and community centres will be built in areas such as Darndale in north Dublin, Ballyfermot in west Dublin, Knockmitten in Clondalkin, Brookfield in Tallaght, Ballywaltrim in Bray and Knocknaheeny in Cork city. In addition, the Deputy should note that: grants for a wide and diverse variety of youth work projects across the 14 drugs task force areas were approved under round II; and substantial funding was allocated towards the staffing and operational costs of a number of the large-scale youth-community centres built under round I and which have been completed in the last 12 to 18 months. These include St. Catherine's in Dublin's south inner city, John Paul Park Centre in Cabra, Finglas Youth Centre and Donnycarney Youth and Community Centre.

The City of Dublin Youth Services Board, CDYSB, and County Dublin VEC manage the vast majority of service provision under the YPFSF. The years 2002 and 2003 were, in the main, capacity building periods for services supported through the fund. I can say, however, that in that period approximately 3,000 young people per annum availed of services provided through these agencies. The majority of the larger facilities allocated funding under round I were completed towards the end of 2003 and this, along with the additional allocations made under round II, will allow for a marked increase in the number of young people availing of the services and facilities funded through the YPFSF in the coming years.

It is fair to say that the most significant achievement of the fund to date has been the provision of high quality services and facilities in areas where, traditionally, there had been very little. Many of these areas had virtually nothing in the way of facilities up to recently and very little in the way of activities to offer young people. I believe the facilities being supported have the potential to become active and vibrant places in the communities where young people can find positive alternatives to drugs.

The challenge now facing the projects being funded as part of the YPFSF is to increase their usage to the maximum extent possible. I am satisfied that the procedures that have been put in place through organisations and communities involved with the fund will ensure this happens in the coming years.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that there will be a further round of capital funding under the YPFSF in LDTF areas in 2005. The applications are currently being assessed and I hope to make allocations in the next month or two. I am confident that through this additional funding the valuable work undertaken by the fund to date can be further consolidated and built on.