Written answers

Tuesday, 24 February 2009

Department of Health and Children

Youth Services

11:00 pm

Photo of John DeasyJohn Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 184: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will commit to minimising the impact of the cuts from the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to the youth service budget on young people and youth services in Waterford city and county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7042/09]

Photo of John DeasyJohn Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 185: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that reductions in funding from the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to youth organisations working in Waterford city and county may lead to the closure of youth projects and youth initiatives which are working to address the needs of young people who are disadvantaged due to a combination of factors such as social isolation, substance misuse, homelessness, early school leaving and unemployment; if she will give a commitment to protecting these initiatives and projects from cutbacks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7043/09]

Photo of John DeasyJohn Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 186: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the work of hundreds of volunteers in youth organisations will be undermined if there is a cutback in the funding to voluntary youth organisations in Waterford city and county by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs; if she will give a commitment to protect funding for youth organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7044/09]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 187: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will commit to minimising the impact of the cuts from the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to the youth service budget on young people and youth services in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7061/09]

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 188: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will commit to minimising the impact on young people and youth services in County Longford and County Westmeath, of the cuts by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, to the youth service budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7062/09]

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 189: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the reductions in funding by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to youth organisations working in County Longford and County Westmeath, which may lead to the closure of youth projects and youth initiatives, which are working to address the needs of young people who are disadvantaged due to a combination of factors such as social isolation, substance misuse, homelessness, early school leaving and unemployment; if she will give a commitment to protecting these initiatives and projects from cutbacks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7063/09]

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 190: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the work of hundreds of volunteers in youth organisations will be undermined if there is a cutback in the funding to voluntary youth organisations in Longford and Westmeath by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs; if she will give a commitment to protect funding for youth organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7064/09]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 191: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the work of hundreds of volunteers in youth organisations will be undermined if there is a cutback in the funding to voluntary youth organisations in County Cork by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs; if she will give a commitment to protect funding for youth organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7069/09]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 192: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that reductions in funding from the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to youth organisations working in County Cork and in particular in towns such as Macroom, Ballincollig, Newmarket and Kanturk may lead to the closure of youth projects and youth initiatives which are working to address the needs of young people who are disadvantaged due to a combination of factors; if she will give a commitment to protecting these initiatives and projects from cutbacks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7070/09]

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 193: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will commit to minimising the impact of the cuts from the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to the youth service budget on young people and youth services in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7088/09]

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 194: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that reductions in funding from the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to youth organisations working in County Clare may lead to the closure of youth projects and youth initiatives which are working to address the needs of young people who are disadvantaged due to a combination of factors such as social isolation, substance misuse, homelessness, early school leaving and unemployment; if she will give a commitment to protecting these initiatives and projects from cutbacks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7089/09]

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 195: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the work of hundreds of volunteers in youth organisations will be undermined if there is a cutback in the funding to voluntary youth organisations in Clare by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs; if she will give a commitment to protect funding for youth organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7090/09]

Photo of Joanna TuffyJoanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 196: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will commit to minimising the impact of the cuts from the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to the youth service budget on young people and youth services in Dublin mid-west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7100/09]

Photo of Joanna TuffyJoanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 197: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that reductions in funding from the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to youth organisations working in Dublin mid-west may lead to the closure of youth projects and youth initiatives; if she will provide a commitment to protecting these initiatives and projects from cutbacks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7101/09]

Photo of Joanna TuffyJoanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 198: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the work of hundreds of volunteers in youth organisations will be undermined if there is a cutback in the funding to voluntary youth organisations in Dublin mid-west by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs; if she will provide a commitment to protect funding for youth organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7102/09]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 205: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will commit to minimising the impact of the cuts from the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to the youth service budget on young people and youth services in Roscommon and south Leitrim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7132/09]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 206: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to reductions in funding from the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to youth organisations working in County Roscommon and south Leitrim which may lead to the closure of youth projects and youth initiatives which are working to address the needs of young people who are disadvantaged due to a combination of factors such as social isolation, substance misuse, homelessness, early school leaving and unemployment; if he she will commit to protecting these initiatives and projects from cutbacks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7133/09]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 207: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the work of hundreds of volunteers in youth organisations will be undermined if there is a cutback in the funding to voluntary youth organisations in County Roscommon and south Leitrim by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs; if she will commit to protecting funding for youth organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7134/09]

Photo of Bernard AllenBernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 222: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will commit to minimising the impact of the cuts to the youth service budget on young people and youth services in Cork city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7448/09]

Photo of Bernard AllenBernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 223: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that significant reductions in funding to youth organisations working in Cork city may lead to the closure of youth projects and youth initiatives which are working to address the needs of young people who are disadvantaged due to a combination of factors such as social isolation, substance misuse, homelessness, early school leaving and unemployment; if she will commit to protecting these initiatives and projects from cutbacks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7449/09]

Photo of Bernard AllenBernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 224: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the work of hundreds of volunteers in youth organisations will be undermined if there is a cutback in the funding to voluntary youth organisations in Cork city; if she will commit to protecting funding for youth organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7450/09]

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 240: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that reductions in funding to youth organisations working in Mayo may weaken youth projects and youth initiatives which are working to address the needs of young people who are disadvantaged due to a combination of factors such as social isolation, substance misuse, homelessness, early school leaving and unemployment; if she will give a commitment to protecting these initiatives and projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7646/09]

Photo of Barry AndrewsBarry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 to 198, inclusive, 205 to 207, inclusive, 222 to 224, inclusive, and 240 together.

As the Deputies are aware, the youth sector has received considerable financial support over the past number of years. Funding expanded from €35.5m in 2004 to €52m in 2008. While this funding has allowed for some expansion in the sector including the roll out of a number of sections of the Youth Work Act, 2001 and actions cited in the National Youth Work Development Plan, there has been a growing emphasis on consolidation of services.

It is intended that the 2009 Youth Affairs budget of over €48m will continue to focus on supporting existing youth programmes and services for young people including those with fewer opportunities. I have met with the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), which represents some 50 youth organisations, and am aware of the valuable work carried out by the youth work sector, including its strong volunteer base, both in the particular areas referred to by the Deputies as well as across the country. I wish to assure the Deputies that every effort will be made to minimise the impact of the reduction in funding available to the youth sector and to preserve and maintain existing provision in so far as is possible.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.