Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 392: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the funding provided for out of school services and after school services in the context of disadvantage and generally across Government bodies such as the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Office of the Minister for Children and the Health Service Executive. [15931/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I understand that the Deputy's question has also been submitted to my colleague the Minister for Education and Science, whose Department does of course have lead responsibility for these matters. Nevertheless, and arising from my Department's specific involvement in the field of Youth Diversion and Young Person's Probation Services, there are a number of projects funded by us which come within the scope of the Deputy's query as follows.

Garda Youth Diversion Projects

Garda Youth Diversion Projects are multi-agency, community based, crime prevention initiatives which seek to divert young offenders and those at risk of offending from criminal and/or anti-social behaviour by providing suitable activities to facilitate personal development, promote civic responsibility and improve long term employability prospects. Garda Youth Diversion Projects are funded by the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) and operated in conjunction with the Garda Community Relations Section of An Garda Síochána. Projects are established after a positive assessment of an application by the Garda Commissioner. An application is assessed in terms of local demographics, crime statistics, and other socioeconomic factors and will also take into account the level of services already provided for young people in the area. The projects are managed locally by independent management companies.

Garda Youth Diversion Projects offer opportunities for education, employment training, sport, art, music and other activities. Many operate outside of school hours. In areas with a high proportion of early school-leavers, activities may also be planned during the daytime. There are currently 100 projects operating throughout the country. The Government has pledged to ensure there are a total of 168 projects in operation by the end of the current Programme for Government. Overall funding for the Projects is set at €11.909 million for 2008.

Young Person's Probation (YPP) — out of School

The Irish Youth Justice Service, through the Young Person's Probation Division of the Probation Service, funds four projects that provide either 'out of school' services to young people in need, 'after school' services or both services. The funding to these projects is for general programme provision. The projects do not accept children who should be in the school system unless they are referred by the National Educational Welfare Board.

Cox's Demesne, Dundalk, provide support to children on a sessional basis who are released from school for specific periods during the day. The project also provides an after school service for a younger cohort of children.

Candle Community Trust provide after school services.

The Adventure Sports Project provide after school services.

Céim ar Céim provide after school services and educational services to out of school children referred by the Educational Welfare Board.

It is not possible to separately identify the funding for out of schools services provided by these projects but total funding to these projects in 2008 amounts to €838,200. In addition, Waterford Youth Training Education Centre (W.Y.T.E.C.) provides out of school service to a small number of students (2 out of 70). Total funding from my Department through the Probation Service to the W.Y.T.E.C. for the range of programmes it delivers to clients of the Probation Service in the current year is €150,000.