Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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723. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide details of any websites or online resources which her Department funds to provide information to young people on youth work, youth services or other information of use or interest to young people; the amount of funding provided to each organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1054/14]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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724. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department is funding or intends to fund or develop a one stop shop style website providing information on youth work, youth services and other information of importance and relevance to young people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1055/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 723 and 724 together.

My Department provides funding to support 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. The funding schemes inter alia support:

- the work of 32 national and regional youth organisations funded under the Youth Service Grant Scheme and some 480 local youth work projects which include projects for young people who are at risk of substance misuse, homelessness or who live in disadvantaged areas;

- 25 local youth information centres, which provide a free, confidential information service to young people and those who work with them on a wide range of subjects including youth services and programmes, education, career and employment matters as well as rights and entitlements, travel and European opportunities; and

- Léargas – The Exchange Bureau and Gaisce – the President’s Award

The funding is made available on an annual basis to the organisations and projects to support the services and activities that they provide for young people including the provision of information via information technology.

All of the national youth organisations have websites with information for young people on the services that they provide and links to related services. Details of these organisations and Léargas and Gaisce and website details are set out in the table below. The National Youth Council of Ireland, which is one of the funded bodies, has some 45 youth organisations affiliated to it and the relevant links to these are available on the Council's website www.youth.ie

My Department is developing a new strategy for children and young people. This will provide the basis for more detailed strategies including a new youth strategy. It is envisaged that the new youth strategy will focus on ensuring greater coordination in policy and provision across government for young people. The development of the youth strategy will take account of the information needs of young people and the role of modern technology in meeting those needs and it will be informed by the views of youth service providers and young people in this regard.