Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government proposal to continue to use the young people's facilities and services fund to assist in the development of youth facilities and services in disadvantaged areas where a drug problem exists or has the potential to develop and to extend the fund to further towns mainly in Leinster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28657/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Since it was established in 1998, the Government has allocated over €150m under the Young Peoples Facilities & Services Fund (YPFSF). Approx. €66m has been provided for capital developments, which include the building, upgrading, fit-out and refurbishment of approx. 220 youth and community facilities in the different target areas.

In 2008, current funding of the order of €17m is being provided to support the employment of over 350 youth and outreach workers, centre managers and administration staff. It also includes 24 Sports Development Officers, along with a further 13 "Football in the Community" Development Officers who are co-funded through the Fund, Dublin City Council and the FAI.

A call for the development of further capital facilities, in the amount of €4m, was announced earlier this year. Proposals submitted in this regard are currently under consideration.

At present, the Fund operates in the 14 Local Drugs Task Force areas (Dublin (12), Bray and Cork), and in Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Carlow Town. Following an announcement earlier this year, the Fund will be extended to Arklow, Athlone, Dundalk and Wexford over the coming months.

Consistent with the Taoiseach's announcement in May last, arrangements to transfer responsibility for the Fund to the Office of the Minister for Youth Affairs and Children are currently being progressed.