Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the funding levels for each of the past ten years in the Young People Facilities and Services Fund; the name and location of each organisation or group which benefited from this funding in each of the years in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39831/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Young People's Facilities and Services Funding (YPFSF) was established in 1998 to assist in the development of preventative strategies/initiatives in a targeted manner through the development of youth facilities, (including sport and recreational facilities) and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. The objective of the Fund is to attract "at risk" young people in disadvantaged areas into these facilities and activities and divert them away from the dangers of substance abuse. The target group for the Fund are 10-21 year olds who are marginalised through a combination of risk factors relating to family background, environmental circumstances, educational disadvantage, involvement in crime and/or drugs, etc.

The YPFSF currently operates in 14 Local Drugs Task Force (LDTF) areas (Dublin - 12, Bray and Cork) and 8 urban areas - Galway, Limerick, Waterford Cities and Carlow, Athlone, Arklow, Dundalk and Wexford Towns.

Disbursements from the Fund commenced in the Department of Education & Science in 2002 and the Fund transferred to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs later that year. Details of YPFSF Funding administered by D/CRGA, in addition to mainstreamed project funding provided by other Departments, from 2002 to 2008 are set out in Table 1.

The Deputy will be aware that, in May last year, the Taoiseach announced that the YPFSF was to be integrated into the Office of the Minister of Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) and arrangements to give effect to that transfer were completed in January of this year. Details of funding in 2009 are set out in Table 2.

Table 1: DCGRA - YPFSF Expenditure 2003 - 2008

*Funding administered by the Department of Education and Science in 2002

Table 2: OMCYA - Expenditure to date 2009

Applications for funding under the YPFSF are made through the relevant Development Group which determines the suitability of proposals against priorities identified for the area, which are in turn assessed by the National Assessment Committee (NAC) of the YPFSF. Projects are funded by the Office of the Minister for Children & Youth Affairs through channels of funding, for example VECs, Local Authorities. I have arranged for my officials to supply the Deputy, under separate cover, with details of YPFSF funding to these organisations.