Written answers

Wednesday, 4 March 2009

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Departmental Funding

9:00 pm

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding allocated to recreational and sporting clubs in each of the past three years to promote youth activities as an alternative to anti-social behaviour and drug misuse; the areas to which the funding was allocated; the results to date of the projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8959/09]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism has responsibility in relation to the provision of financial assistance for sporting facilities. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has responsibility for a range of schemes which provide assistance, including financial assistance, to the youth work sector. Addressing anti-social behaviour is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform. I should also inform the Deputy that responsibility for the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) transferred from my Department to the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs on 1st January 2009.

My Department provides a range of supports and programmes to benefit communities and to enable them to enhance the quality of life of every member of their local area. The RAPID Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within 46 designated RAPID areas nationally. It is a matter for individual lead Departments to report on their investments in RAPID areas.

The Deputy will be aware that, in 2004, I introduced the RAPID Leverage Fund to provide financial support for small-scale projects in RAPID areas, which are endorsed by the RAPID Area Implementation Teams. Under this scheme, my Department provides an additional grant of up to 30% of the funds allocated under the Sports Capital Programme operated by my Colleague, the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism for projects in or serving RAPID areas. Funding of €13m has been allocated since 2004 under the Sports Capital Programme.

Following the enactment of the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2005, funding is ring-fenced annually to support priority projects in RAPID areas. Since 2007, 15% of the annual €7.5million available under the RAPID Additionality Measure is allocated to sports and youth related activities.

There is no specific funding for recreational and sporting clubs to promote youth activities. However, capital funding was provided under the 2008 Regional Youth Initiative for the development of dedicated youth facilities in Regional Drugs Task Force (RDTF) areas not covered under the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund YPFSF. Sixteen projects were approved. These were suitable community based, youth focussed proposals that linked into the overall drug prevention strategy for the particular area. The sixteen projects will play a meaningful and ongoing role in diverting young people away from the dangers of drug use.

Under the Premises Initiative Fund, which addresses the accommodation needs of community based drugs projects in Drugs Task Force areas, capital funding may also be provided for youth focused projects.

In conclusion, while programmes and schemes operated by my Department do not provide specific budgets for youth activities, organisations working for young people may benefit from a number of wider programmes. Details in relation to the programmes referred to above for 2006 to 2008 (inclusive) is provided in the Appendix.

APPENDIX
2006
Support or programmeNumber of recreational & sporting clubsFunding allocated to promote youth activities as an alternative to anti-social behaviour and drug misuseAreas to which the funding was allocated
RAPID107€3.792mRAPID areas in Carlow, Cavan, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Meath, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford

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