Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way local community groups can draw down funding from the additional €4 million for facilities for young people, which he announced on 3 March 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10410/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF), has until recently, focused on the 14 Local Drugs Task Force areas (12 in Dublin, Bray and Cork), as well as Limerick, Waterford, Carlow and Galway. Recently, I announced that I was expanding the Fund to four additional towns — Athlone, Dundalk, Wexford and Arklow — and arrangements to give effect to this expansion will be rolled out over the coming months.

The additional €4m funding I announced in early March relates to the original YPFSF areas. Applications for funding are made through the Development Group in the areas concerned who determines the suitability of proposals against priorities identified. Generally, the Development Group comprises representatives from the Drugs Task Force, the Local Authority and the VEC. The Development Groups have been invited to submit proposals for funding by 18 April next. The types of projects that may be funded include the building, upgrading, fit-out and refurbishment of youth and community facilities. The applications will be assessed by the Fund's National Assessment Committee against set criteria and I expect to be in a position to approve the projects recommended to me shortly thereafter.