John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 26 April 2006, if she has a recreation policy for young people in place; if a proposal (details supplied) to fund a youth worker in Tramore, County Waterford will receive funding; her further views on using the proposed project as a pilot scheme for the Government's recreational strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42418/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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There is no funding at the disposal of my Office under which financial assistance can be made available to support the employment of a youth worker in Tramore, County Waterford and in the circumstance I regret that I am not in a position to be of assistance at the present time. However, I understand that this service is currently in receipt of €72,223 from the HSE towards the running of the project.

In addition, the Deputy might note that the Youth Affairs Section of the Department of Education and Science administers the Special Projects for Youth Scheme. Under this Scheme, grant-in-aid is made available on an annual basis to organisations and groups for specific projects which seek to address the needs of young people who are disadvantaged due to a combination of factors e.g. social isolation, substance misuse and inadequate take-up of ordinary educational opportunities. It would be open to the organisation in question to submit an application for funding under this Scheme in the 2007 round of grants and in this regard.

The Deputy might also wish to note that the promotion of positive recreational opportunities is being actively pursued by my Office in the context of the development of a national recreation policy for young people aged 12 to 18. Key issues on the measures necessary to facilitate improved access to recreation, including specific actions to develop and expand recreational opportunities for young people, are being considered by my Office in the context of the finalisation of the policy which I expect to publish in the near future.