Written answers

Thursday, 3 November 2011

3:00 pm

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if State funding will be put in place next year in respect of a group (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32570/11]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances 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.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she has engaged with the various youth organisations throughout the country with a view to determination of youth policy in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32648/11]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she has received submissions from various youth organisations or community groups involved with young persons; her proposals to address the most important issues raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32649/11]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she and her Department have identified particular weaknesses in the extent of youth support services and facilities throughout the country on a local, regional or national basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32650/11]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 148, 149 and 150 together.

My Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. These include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund and certain other provisions including the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, Youth Information Centres, European Youth in Action Programme (administered by Léargas the Exchange Bureau) and Gaisce the President's Award.

Funding of €60.954m is available from my Department in 2011 to support the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth work sector. Youth work programmes and services are delivered to young participants in the various programmes by some 1,100 youth work staff and by a volunteer base of over 60,000. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am committed to the development of a new youth policy framework which my Department is currently progressing. Through this work a clear policy framework will emerge that will aim to enhance the development, participation and support of young people.

I intend that the policy framework will also facilitate and promote co-ordination and coherence across departments and services and will set out the priorities, rationale and criteria for future funding programmes. It will also accommodate issues relevant to young people within the 10-24 age range in informal or out-of-school settings that fall within the remit of my Department. The overall aim will be to clarify and enhance coherence, connectivity, co-ordination and delivery in youth services and related out-of-schools services for young people and to ensure such provision is both quality and outcomes based.

Ensuring quality service delivery is an ongoing priority for me. My Department is at present progressing two quality standards initiatives in the youth area that will help ensure an improvement in good practice, that services are outcomes focused and that the young people involved are deriving the maximum benefit from being involved.

One of my key aims for youth policy development will be to ensure optimum use of all the financial and human resources available. Accordingly, the development of my Department's policy in relation to young people will focus specifically on ensuring greater coherence, co-ordination and impact in youth policy and provision so as to ensure quality outcomes for all.

My Department is involved in ongoing and productive dialogue with the youth sector through the National Youth Work Advisory Committee (NYWAC). This committee comprises a chairperson and 32 members drawn equally from the voluntary and statutory sectors involved in the administration and provision of youth work programmes and services. Thirteen nominees from the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) and four from the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) are represented on the committee.

Any submissions received from youth organisations by my Department are given due consideration. Since my appointment as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I have met with a number of youth organisations and listened to their views and concerns.

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