Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will make a commitment that the young people's facilities and services fund will maintain its drugs focus in the context of its transfer to the Office of the Minister for Children. [2650/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As you may be aware, further to the Taoiseach's announcement in May 2008, arrangements to transfer responsibility for the Young People's Facilities & Services Fund (YPFSF) to the Office of the Minister for Children & Youth Affairs have recently been completed.

Since it was established in 1998, the Government has allocated over €150m under the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) to assist in the development of youth facilities (including sport and recreational facilities) and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. Approximately €66m has been provided for capital developments, which include the building, upgrading, fit-out and refurbishment of some 220 youth and community facilities in the different target areas.

Over €20m, in capital and current funding has transferred from the Department of Community, Rural, & Gaeltacht Affairs Vote to the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA). I am confident that the transfer will assist in ensuring the most strategic use of this Fund and other youth programmes under my overall remit. I can assure the Deputy that my officials are liaising with the existing National Assessment Committee to ensure the focus and objectives of the Fund are protected and promoted in the OMCYA. In 2009, current funding of the order of €17m is provided to support the employment of approximately 408 youth and outreach workers, centre managers, sports development officers and administration staff.

Overall, I believe that the Fund has had a very positive impact on communities since it commenced nearly 10 years ago. Over the years, the areas covered under the Fund had been marked by a serious dearth of facilities and services and many of the clubs and community groups in those areas had traditionally not been able to access funding from other mainstream schemes to the same extent as other more affluent areas.

I am confident that the integration of this Fund into the OMCYA will continue to provide a cohesive and comprehensive response to the needs of all young people, including those at risk of drug use.