Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number and budget of youth cafes funded by her Department each year in 2006, 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7560/09]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number and budget of youth cafes funded by her Department each year in 2006, 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; further to Parliamentary Question No. 223 of 18 November 2008, if she brought her proposals to Cabinet; and when the report will be published. [7558/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 234 together.

The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) did not provide funding to youth cafés in 2006, 2007, 2008 or to date in 2009. The OMCYA has been allocated €750,000 from Dormant Accounts for the development of a structured programme of youth cafes in 2009. Final decisions on the operation of this programme are still under consideration.

The focus of the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) which is now under the remit of the OMCYA is not on the provision of youth cafés. However a number of the facilities built under the YPFSF include a youth café area incorporated within the facility. The objective of the Fund is to attract "at risk" young people in disadvantaged areas into these facilities and activities and divert them away from the dangers of substance abuse. The Youth Affairs Section that transferred from the Department of Education and Science to the OMCYA as of 1 January, 2009 has also provided funding in recent years to a small number of youth work projects that provide youth cafe facilities for young people.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number and budget of voluntary bodies that her Department funds to provide youth and sporting facilities for young people. [7562/09]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number and budget of voluntary bodies that her Department funds to provide youth and sporting facilities for young people. [7559/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 235 together.

The Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) was established in 1998 to assist in the development of preventative strategies/initiatives in a targeted manner through 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. Applications for funding under the YPFSF are made through the relevant Development Group which determines the suitability of proposals against priorities identified for the area and funding is allocated to relevant projects taking account of this advice amongst other criteria.

To date, over €150m has been allocated under the Fund of which €66m is capital funding towards approximately 214 projects in existing YPFSF areas. In 2008 €4.916m capital funding was provided to support 26 capital projects and €18.1m current funding was allocated to support approximately 150 current projects and programmes and the employment of over 408 people.

Funding from the Youth Affairs budget (€52.6m in 2008) supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for young people. These are delivered in the main by voluntary youth organisations. In particular, funding is provided to 31 national or major regional youth organisations through the Youth Service Grant Scheme. Funding for this Scheme amounted to €13.4m in 2008. In addition, funding of €20.98m was provided to 182 projects under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme as well as €8.73m for 104 projects under the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (Round 1 funding stream mainstreamed to Department of Education and Science in 2004 and 2006). While funding for these two latter Schemes is channelled mainly through the VECs, the projects are operated by voluntary youth organisations.