Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will indicate to an organisation (details supplied) the way she is measuring value for money; and if reductions in funding are being imposed will she articulate a clear rationale for the reductions and for the level of reductions being imposed. [35094/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department supports the delivery of 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 People's Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2 and Local Drugs Task Force Projects.

St. John Bosco Youth Centre is currently in receipt of funding under the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (Rounds 1 and 2) and the 2011 allocation to the Centre is €248,247. Funding is administered to the Youth Centre by City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB). In determining allocations to initiatives and schemes in 2011 my Department has made every effort to minimise the impact of the reduction in the Youth Affairs budget on front line youth work services. In light of continuing budgetary constraints, the Youth Affairs budget in 2012 will again require careful management with a focus on prioritising existing youth service provision and protecting jobs and pay in so far as is possible. Every effort will be made to notify the various youth work organisations and administering agencies, in this instance, CDYSB, of their 2012 allocations as speedily as possible.

The main objectives of the Youth Affairs area are to develop and implement coherent, co-ordinated and relevant youth policies and strategies to support the youth sector in providing effective non-formal education and developmental opportunities for young people through which they can enhance and develop their personal and social skills and competencies. To support this work, the Youth Affairs area of my Department has a budget in 2011 of €60.154m on current expenditure and €0.8m on capital expenditure. 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. The overall aim will be to clarify and enhance coherence, connectivity, coordination 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 focussed and that the young people involved are deriving the maximum benefit from being involved.