Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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175. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when a decision will be announced on the level of funding from the Government for 2014 for the City of Dublin Youth Service Board, in view of the fact that any delay will make planning for the ongoing funding of the youth organisations in the city more complicated. [49626/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department is working on the funding allocation for youth services in 2014. In line with Government policy account must be taken of the savings requirements identified in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE). In this regard, an amount of €1m has been provided in Budget 2014 to my Department to offset the impact of the CRE savings requirements on youth services next year.

Every effort is being made by my Department to finalise the 2014 allocations so that youth projects and national youth organisations, including the City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB), will be advised of their 2014 allocations as soon as possible.

I, and officials of my Department have met, and will continue to meet, with many youth organisations and groups including the City of Dublin Youth Service Board to try and see how we can work together to ensure the most effective and efficient use of the resources available in order to continue to support the provision of quality youth services to young people in 2014.

Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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176. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the two Comhairle na nÓg's in County Waterford will remain equally funded after the amalgamation of Waterford City and County Councils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49657/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Proposed mergers of local authorities will affect a number of Comhairle na nÓg around the country and I understand that my Department will be reviewing the current Comairle na nÓg structural configuration when the Waterford Local Government Reform process has been finalised. My Department has not yet taken a decision in this regard, however, I would expect that any merger of local structures would result in increased efficiencies and better use of resources.

In the meantime, excellent work is being undertaken in the area of mental health by the Comhairle na nÓg in both Waterford City and County. Waterford County Comhairle na nÓg was awarded the top award in the ‘All Island Pride of Place Award for Youth and Enterprise’ in Derry on 16 November 2013 for their Mind Matters video, which highlights the importance of positive mental health, and for development of a Cyber Code which young people can sign up to for safer cyber use. Over 4,000 secondary school students in the county have signed up to the code. I know that Waterford City Comhairle na nÓg is currently working on a project to promote positive mental health and civic pride through development of a mural featuring local heroes which is expected to be completed and launched in January 2014.