Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 159: 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 west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8280/09]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 160: 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 west and in particular in areas such as Blanchardstown, Corduff, Clonsilla and Mulhuddart 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. [8281/09]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 161: 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 west 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. [8282/09]

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will commit to minimizing 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 north Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8345/09]

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: 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 towns (details supplied) in County Tipperary may lead to the closure of youth projects and youth initiatives; if she will give a commitment to protecting these initiatives and projects from cutbacks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8346/09]

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 175: 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 north Tipperary 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. [8347/09]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 198: 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 areas such as Crumlin, Kimmage, Ballyfermot, Inchicore, Walkinstown and south inner city in Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8762/09]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 199: 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 City areas such as Crumlin, Kimmage, Ballyfermot, Inchicore, Walkinstown and the south inner 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 give a commitment to protecting these initiatives and projects from cutbacks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8763/09]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: 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 City 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. [8764/09]

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 207: 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 south Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8829/09]

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact the works of hundreds of volunteers in youth organisations will be undermined if there is a significant cutback in the funding of voluntary youth organisations in south Kerry by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8830/09]

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the reductions in funding from the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to youth organisations working in south Kerry 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. [8831/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 to 161, inclusive, 173 to 175, inclusive, 198 to 200, inclusive, and 207 to 209, inclusive, 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.