Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the financial supports that are available in terms of both start-up costs and running costs for community groups who wish to establish youth cafes in their community. [29775/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Office has been allocated €750,000 from Dormant Accounts for the development of a structured programme of youth cafes in 2009. Final decisions on the operation in 2009 of the programme, including those regarding the level and priority of financial supports, are still under consideration.

At this stage, the focus of my Office is to bring greater coherence to the approach taken to date, retaining the strong inter-agency element and identifying appropriate models for the future development of youth cafés. Since September 2007 my Office has undertaken a small survey of some of the existing cafés looking at mission/objectives, management and organisation, service levels and the role of young people.

Following that survey the National Children's Advisory Council (NCAC) was requested to advise on the development of a youth café model. Research was carried out by the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) and a draft report has been forwarded to me for my consideration. This work will ensure that funding is targeted and co-ordinated most effectively on a model or models of youth cafés which meet the needs of young people themselves. It will also ensure that any funding that may be available will augment without displacing existing inter-agency resources.

The NUIG has also been requested to prepare a toolkit and guide to support groups setting up youth cafés. This will be a "how to" guide which will deal with issues such as guiding principles, practical operational matters and provide advice and tips on the day to day management and ongoing development of a café as well as setting up cafes. A draft of the 'toolkit' is currently being finalised. I intend to make an announcement on advancing the youth café programme, in addition to launching the NUIG Youth Café Report and Toolkit, in the near future.