Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if representatives of his Department, which has incorporated the functions of the national drugs strategy team, on the national assessment committee argued for the retention of the small grants from the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund in 2009 in view of the fact that these grants are often the only access many groups have to resources to work with disadvantaged and vulnerable people in local communities; and if in view of the decision by the NAC, which is chaired by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, not to provide the small grants in 2009, he will make a new small grants funding scheme available to local groups working in areas badly affected by the drugs crisis. [23864/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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At the outset, the Deputy should note that since 1st January 2009, responsibility for the Young Peoples Facilities & Services Fund (YPFSF) is a matter for my colleague, Barry Andrews T.D., Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

The National Assessment Committee (NAC) – on which my Department is represented - oversees the operation of the Fund, both administrative and financial. As part of its remit, the funding allocations for 2009 were determined by the NAC in the context of the overall funding available and associated commitments. I understand that it was agreed that providing limited small grants funding was the optimum approach given the funding that is available this year.

As the Deputy will be aware, funding for drugs initiatives from my Department is fully committed and, therefore, I am not in a position to provide any additional funding as suggested by the Deputy. It should be noted, however, that from the funding available to them in 2009, each Drugs Task Force can prioritise the areas to be funded – including small grants funding.