Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of community based youth initiative measures that have been funded in each of the past two years under the local development social inclusion programme; the number of participants in the areas in which funding was provided; the average funding provided to each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23846/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP) is a series of measures that are designed to counter disadvantage and to promote equality and social and economic inclusion. LDSIP is implemented locally by 37 Integrated Local Development Companies and 17 Urban Partnerships. These are not-for-profit companies that target the areas of greatest need in the country, to provide an area-based response to long-term unemployment and to promote social inclusion across three sub-measures, one of which is the Community Based Youth Initiatives Measure.

Under this measure, Groups seek to complement and add value to mainstream educational provision. This is done by co-ordinating interventions locally and bolstering community based provision for young people whose needs are not adequately met within mainstream education or who require additional supports. Such individuals include early school leavers and potential early school leavers. Actions include both in-school and after-school supports as well as developmental youth work in a community setting. Particular attention has been paid to specific target groups, e.g. students with disabilities and young Travellers. Interventions also target parents, teachers and youth workers.

In 2007, 56,234 children, young people and adults were supported under the Community-Based Youth Initiatives measure. In 2008, figures rose to 61,068 individuals.

Funding in respect of the Community-Based Youth Initiatives measure represents 13% of the total LDSIP funding allocation. Approximately €7m was expended under the Community-Based Youth Initiatives measure in both 2007 and 2008.