Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his Department offers financial assistance in respect of the establishment of youth clubs in rural areas in view of the importance of such clubs to the social life of rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2579/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is responsible for a range of schemes, which provide assistance, including financial assistance, to the youth work sector. The relevant schemes that support youth work and youth club activity at local level are the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, the Youth Service Grant Scheme, Special Projects for Youth and the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund. Funding in 2008 for the various grant-in-aid funding programmes amounted to some €52 million.

While my Department does not operate a specific scheme or programme to support youth clubs in rural areas, I would draw the attention of the Deputy to some measures that have a positive impact on the provision of services and facilities for rural youth. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is responsible for the delivery of Axes 3 & 4 of the Rural Development Programme, 2007-2013. These elements of the Programme aim to address the needs of a range of groups in rural society, including young people. The measures under which support is available include the Basic Services for the Economy and Rural Population measure (€49.61m over the lifetime of the Programme). Under this measure, Local Action Groups will identify and provide appropriate cultural and leisure activities to their rural local communities that are not otherwise available to them. Initiatives in this measure will broadly address the provision of amenity and leisure facilities, general community and recreational infrastructure and certain arts facilities.

Under the Premises Initiative Fund, which addresses the accommodation needs of community based drugs projects in Drugs Task Force areas, capital funding may also be provided for youth focused projects. In addition, I should mention that Údarás na Gaeltachta provides annual funding of €300,000 to Óige na Gaeltachta Teo. to support youth activities throughout the Gaeltacht. Óige na Gaeltachta Teo. aims to improve community-based youth services in the Gaeltacht and to promote and increase the use of Irish within these services. The organisation provides a broad range of support services to youth clubs, community groups and voluntary organisations in the Gaeltacht, including assistance with insurance costs, funding for equipment and other club activities including educational programmes. There are currently 55 registered youth clubs with a combined membership of approximately 2,000 young people operating in the Gaeltacht.