John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a youth club (details supplied) in County Sligo has 63 members in the nine to 15 age group; if funding will be provided to them to allow them to carry out their training programmes as well as doing the different activities requested by the group and allow the club to carry out its objectives; if it is important for young persons to be involved in activities such as this to prevent alcohol abuse; when funding will be granted; the timescale involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17908/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I fully appreciate the importance and value of youth work programmes and services in supporting the development of young people in out-of school settings. In this connection, my Department operates a number of schemes which provide support for youth work and youth organisations. In particular, the local youth club grant scheme provides for the support of youth work activities at local level. These grants are made available to youth clubs and groups through the local vocational education committees that administer the scheme on behalf of my Department.

This scheme has two grant categories: youth grants which are designed to aid the ongoing costs of youth clubs and groups and, special youth grants. The latter grants are once-off in nature and are intended to aid special youth work initiatives, particularly those aimed at disadvantaged young people.