Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will increase the funding available for youth work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32778/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The financial allocation in the main funding line for the youth work sector in 2005 represents an 18% increase in funding over 2004 and brings that financial provision to €33.889 million in 2005. This is clear evidence of the Government's commitment to the youth work sector in Ireland. This additional funding is catering for a number of developments under the Youth Work Act 2001 and the national youth work development plan and for enhancements to existing youth work services.

In particular, to date in 2005 I have allocated an additional €2 million for the expansion and development of the special projects for youth scheme. This measure is in line with the recommendations of the national youth development plan. Through this scheme, grant-in-aid of just under €16 million is being made available this year in respect of out-of-school projects for disadvantaged and marginalised young people.

In addition, I have increased funding for the ongoing support and advancement of some 31 national and major regional youth work organisations by 8%, bringing support for these organisations to more than €11 million in 2005. I have also established a fund to develop the capacity of these organisations in preparing themselves organisationally for the further rollout of the Youth Work Act 2001. With regard to youth information provision, support for the national network of youth information centres has also been increased by 8% in 2005.

I am extremely conscious of the worthwhile work being carried out by the youth work sector and acknowledge the valuable contribution it makes to the non-formal education of our young people. I assure the Deputy of my ongoing support for the sector and its work.