Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

237. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline the level of funding received by an organisation (details supplied) under the youth services grants scheme each year since 2008; if in view of the increasing membership to this organisation she will favourably consider their appliction for funding for 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32676/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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. These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2, Local Drug Task Force Projects and certain other provisions including the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, Youth Information Centres, the European Youth in Action Programme (administered by Léargas – the Exchange Bureau) and Gaisce – the President’s Award. Funding of €53.498m has been provided to my Department for the provision of youth services in 2013. This includes funding of €438,457 provided to Macra na Feirme under the Youth Service Grant Scheme for its services to young people in 2013.

As with all Government Departments and Agencies funding for programmes in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has been reduced in recent years due to the general budgetary situation in which we find ourselves. The savings required in the youth budget under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure in respect of 2013 amounted to €5.393m which equated to an almost 10% reduction on 2012 funding available for the provision of youth services. The savings required in 2014 in the youth budget under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure amount to €2.97m. Having regard to the savings requirements identified in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure my Department has tried to be as equitable as possible in achieving these savings. In considering how best to manage within the reduced budgets available, organisations are being asked to consider the scope for reducing administration costs and overheads, if this is at all possible, in order to maintain the front line youth services for young people. I have met, and continue to meet with, many youth organisations and groups to try and see how we can work together to minimise the impact of these necessary savings in order to ensure that the provision of quality youth services to young people is sustained in these challenging times.

Funding to Macra na Feirme under the Youth Service Grant Scheme 2008 - 2013