Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the extent of support that will be provided by her Department for youth services such as youthclubs or other indoor facilities in 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8416/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Children and Youth Services Development Unit of my Department provides support by way of financial and other assistance to organisations providing youth work programmes and youth work services. Support consists mainly of grant-in-aid assistance for national and major regional youth organisations under the Youth Service Grant Scheme, targeted youth work responses for young people through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme and support for youth clubs and groups at a local level through the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme. Funding is also made available to youth projects and facilities under the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF). The YPFSF assists in the development of facilities and services for young people in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop.

The budget for 2010 for the Children and Youth Services Development Unit of my Department is €64.89m. The process of determining my Department's financial allocations to the Youth Work Sector for 2010 is underway. The focus will be on consolidating, insofar as possible, existing provision and services in the Youth Sector. Every effort will be made to notify the various youth work organisations and administering agencies of their allocations as speedily as possible.