Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding available for a centre (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18230/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The main funding mechanisms for youth cafés in recent years have been provided by the Government under 2 separate strands, the YPFSF (Young People's Facilities and Services Fund) and the competitive 2010 OMCYA / POBAL youth café funding scheme. Under the YPFSF a number of facilities funded have a multi-purpose usage. This responds to the needs of the local communities, the existing projects and services and links in with the development and accommodation of a range of new services. Most of the purpose built YPFSF youth facilities provide a safe space or youth café for young people to drop in. Capital funding of over €13 million has been provided to date under the YPFSF for 15 facilities which incorporated a youth café element in their design.

The dedicated competitive OMCYA/POBAL youth café funding scheme last year awarded a total of €1.5m to create a network of 16 new youth cafés across the State. A percentage of that fund, approximately 25%, was awarded to refurbish and re-equip a total of 50 existing youth cafés across the country. The new sites funded under both funding schemes are gradually coming on stream and indeed I had the pleasure myself of officially opening 2 brand new youth cafés in Dundalk and Dublin respectively in the past few weeks. It is expected that the remaining sites will open over the next 12 to 18 months. My Department estimates that there are approximately 75 to 100 youth cafés currently operating across the country. This represents a significant step forward in terms of the provision of safe meeting spaces for young people in a relatively short period of time. This is a direct result of targeted implementation of specific aspects of the national recreation policy.

I understand that the Attic Youth Café in Co. Longford is a vibrant and well operated project and that they competed for funds under the then OMCYA/POBAL funding scheme. Due to the highly competitive nature of that scheme they were among those not successful in obtaining funds on that occasion. My Department has no immediate plans for additional new funding schemes targeting youth cafés this year, as a significant amount of money has been allocated to various projects. I will consider in due course whether any further funding can be allocated to this area having regard to the overall budget priorities of my Department and in the context of the constraints on public spending generally at the present time.

In the meantime I would suggest that the group consider applying for funding under the Local Youth Grant Scheme administered by the local VECs and also via the National Lottery allocation scheme for my Department. I would need to advise the Deputy that demand for Departmental lottery funding is very competitive therefore no guarantee of a successful outcome can be given. I wish the project every success with their future work. My officials will be happy to assist with information on both schemes.