Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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492. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the discussions her Department has had with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to funding allocations for youth work services in 2014; if her Department highlighted the 30% cuts in funding for youth services since 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39460/13]

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. Funding of some €53.498 million (including €1.75m in capital funding) has been made available in 2013 to support these schemes and programmes.

Funding requirements and how resources should be prioritised and allocated across each area of Government spending are generally considered as part of the annual estimates cycle and budgetary process. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this time on any future decisions that may be taken by Government in the context of Budget 2014 on the expenditure allocations for youth work programmes and services falling within the Vote of my Department.