Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding funding in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15472/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of some €53.173m is available in 2013 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. 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. These funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 400,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 paid staff and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country.

Youth Affairs Unit provides funding to the organisation in Co. Wicklow, referred to by the Deputy, under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund (Rounds 1 and 2) and for a Youth Information Centre.

The Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE) published in December 2011 sets out clearly the savings required from my Department in each of 2012, 2013 and 2014. The CRE contained a detailed seven page chapter outlining savings required from youth work funding. The CRE requires a 10% saving in 2013 with a lesser saving in 2014. Having regard to the savings requirements identified in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure my Department has tried to ensure that, in the determination process for the allocations, the front line youth services, particularly those for the most vulnerable young people are protected as far as is possible from the impact of any necessary reductions in funding.

My Department has commenced a comprehensive Value for Money and Policy Review of youth funding and this report is expected later this year. It is anticipated that this report will inform the provision of funding for youth programmes/services going into the future.