Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 631: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of young people on the Youthreach programme in a county (details supplied); the number of centres where the Youthreach programme is run; if he will provide additional places on Youthreach in this county in view of the increasing number of young people who are unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4731/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Youthreach provides two years integrated education, training and work experience to young people aged 15-20 years who have left school early without any qualifications or vocational training. There are around 6,500 places available nationally under the Youthreach umbrella. 3,700 of these are funded by my Department and delivered in just over 100 centres by Vocational Education Committees (VECs). 2,800 are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and delivered in Community Training Centres by FÁS.

My Department currently funds 185 Youthreach places in the county referred to by the Deputy, delivered in seven centres. Due to the difficult budgetary position it is not possible for my Department to provide further funding for the creation of additional places on the Youthreach programme.