Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 229: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there is funding available to assist in the setting up of youth cafés; if so, the level of funding provided by her to assist in the setting up of youth cafés in each of the past three years; the way a community organisation should apply for funding to establish a youth café; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42731/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) has not funded youth cafés. The OMCYA has been allocated €1,500,000 from Dormant Accounts for the development of a structured programme of youth cafes. Final decisions on the operation of this programme are still under consideration and it is anticipated the funding will be made available over 2010 and 2011.

The focus of the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) which is now under the remit of the OMCYA is not on the provision of youth cafés. However a number of the facilities built under the YPFSF include a youth café area incorporated within the facility. 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 Youth Affairs Section that transferred from the Department of Education & Science to the OMCYA as of 1 January, 2009 has also provided funding in recent years to a small number of youth work projects that provide youth cafe facilities for young people.