Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the budget within his Department and other Departments for youth affairs in 2008; the proposed budget for 2009; the impact this will have on the provision of frontline services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39188/08]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for youth affairs currently resides in the Department of Education and Science. However, earlier this year, the Taoiseach announced that responsibility for youth affairs was transferring to the newly formed Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMYCA). It was also announced that the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF), for which my Department has had responsibility, was to integrate into the OMCYA. Arrangements to give effect to the transfers are expected to be completed shortly.

Of the order of €21m is being provided this year to support the valuable work being done through the Fund. The funding to be transferred to the OMCYA in 2009 — though marginally reduced to approximately €20m — will continue to support the broad range of initiatives already in place. The Deputy will appreciate that it will be a matter for the OMCYA to oversee the management of the Fund in the context of funding available to them for 2009. I am confident, however, that the Fund's integration into that Office will provide a cohesive and comprehensive response to the needs of all young people, including those at risk of drug misuse.

The Deputy should also note that I recently announced funding of almost €2.3m for the development of 16 dedicated youth facilities in Regional Drugs Task Force areas not covered by the YPFSF. I am confident that these projects will play an important and ongoing role in diverting young people away from the dangers of drug use.

A number of the projects being run through the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces also work with under-18s. The type of projects funded range from drugs education workers, counsellors, youth information projects and outreach services. Some of the projects funded are not exclusively for under-18s — rather they encompass family members under family support projects and initiatives run by community drugs teams.