Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there is funding available for a programme (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27996/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The 2011 budget allocation for the Youth Affairs Unit of my Department is €60.154m on current expenditure and €800,000 on capital expenditure. This funding supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities through grants-in-aid. Foróige is currently in receipt of €6.037m from Youth Affairs Unit for projects run under a number of schemes including the Youth Service Grant Scheme, Special Projects for Youth Scheme, four (4) Youth Information Centres and for a number of projects under the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (Rounds 1 and 2).

The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department is aware of the Big Brother Big Sister Programme which is run by Foróige. However, having regard to the reductions in public expenditure that must be achieved by Government Departments and State Agencies and the limited funding available, it was not possible to consider funding for the programme in 2011. In light of expected budgetary constraints in 2012, it is unlikely that any new applications for funding will be considered next year.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to issue youth information centre grants in 2011; when this process will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27998/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has allocated €1.862 m in 2011 to support Youth Information Centres around the country. The programme funds 31 centres which are used by some 175,000 young people. The majority of the centres also act as relays for a European Information Service, Eurodesk. To date, three of the four annual instalments have been made to these centres through the grant administering agencies. The final instalments of the 2011 allocations will be made by the end of this month provided audited accounts have been provided to my Department in respect of 2010.