Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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1260. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will address the concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding cuts to the youth service grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38016/13]

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. 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

Having regard to the savings requirements identified in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, my Department will try to ensure that in the determination process for the 2014 allocations, the front line youth services, particularly those for the most vulnerable young people, will be protected as far as is 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 in order to maintain the front line services for young people particularly for those young people who may be disadvantaged.

Officials of my Department have met with representatives of all the national organisations that are funded under the Youth Service Grant Scheme to share information and to hear from the organisations about the impact of the reductions in funding on the services that they provide. I have met with and continue to meet with, many youth projects 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.