Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her reasons for cutting funding for the education officer in Dublin south east inner city; her plans, if any, to ensure that the work of the education officer over the past 17 years is continued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41331/12]

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 youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2 and Local Drugs Task Force Projects.

Funding of €56.806 million has been provided to my Department to support the provision of youth services in 2012. Some 477 projects and youth services throughout the country receive support under the schemes. The annual funding allocations for youth projects are determined by my Department and the funding is administered, on behalf of my Department, by a number of grant administering agencies that includes the City of Dublin Youth Services Board (CDYSB) of the CDVEC.

Funding is provided to CYC by my Department for the provision of services for young people including an allocation of €1,010,735 in 2012 under the Youth Service Grant Scheme. An allocation of €44,506 for the provision of services in Dublin South East inner city has also been provided.

No decisions have been made by my Department in relation to the 2013 funding for youth services throughout the country nor in relation to the funding allocations to be provided for individual projects, including the CYC.

Any proposals or recommendations that a body administering funding on behalf of my Department such as CDYSB makes in relation to the distribution of funding in its locality on account of its local knowledge of the needs of young people would require the approval of my Department before they are implemented.

My Department will be making every effort to advise organisations and projects of their 2013 allocations as soon as possible.