Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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361. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 199 of 25 April 2013, if she will investigate the Kerry Diocesan Youth Service funding. [21277/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The overall budget for the youth sector in 2013 is €53.498 million. Within this total funding, €1.75 million has been provided for a new capital funding programme. This funding 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 work sector. The Youth Service referred to by the Deputy administers a number of youth projects under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme and one Youth Information Service and the allocation provided by my Department for these projects is €511,465 in 2013. Having regard to the savings requirements identified in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, which amount to €5.393 million in 2013, my Department has tried to ensure in the determination process for the allocations that front-line youth services, particularly those for the most vulnerable young people, are protected as far as possible from the impact of any necessary reductions in funding.

There is no doubt that the current budgetary situation is challenging for many organisations. In considering how best to manage within the allocations available, organisations are being asked to consider the scope for reducing administration costs and other overheads and to work closely with their local VEC that administers the funding on behalf of my Department, in order to maintain the front-line services for young people particularly for those young people who may be disadvantaged. My Department is developing a new youth policy framework for publication later this year. The new youth policy framework will aim to enhance the provision of youth services and activities and will, inter alia, promote co-ordination between Government Departments and youth sector organisations with a view to maximising the effectiveness of the State funding available to support services for young people in future years.