Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 805: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an explanation for the proposed closure of Foróige youth information centre in Donegal town; her views on the matter dealing with the impact on the young persons who currently access this service and the impact on the three persons who have lost their jobs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1427/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Foróige, the national youth development organisation, following an internal review of the organisation's wide range of provision for young people, has reprioritised its areas of youth provision and programmes. Accordingly, Foróige, in endeavouring to maintain and develop its core services and programmes, has decided to cease the provision of centre-based Youth Information in three areas including Donegal town.

This reprioritisation has enabled Foróige to strengthen their Big Brother Big Sister (BBBS) Programme nationally. Foróige has decided to reallocate the funding, provided by my Department, from centre-based Youth Information to the Big Brother Big Sister Programme.

My Department supports a range of youth activities in the County Donegal area including a Youth Information Centre in Letterkenny. Funding to support the Letterkenny Centre will continue to be provided by my Department in 2012.