Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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161. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which his Department has received applications for financial support from various youth organisations throughout the country in the current year; the extent to which he expects to be in a position to respond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36298/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme under which funding is made available on an annual basis to 31 national and major regional youth organisations. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund, Rounds 1 and 2, Local Drugs Task Force Projects and certain other programmes including the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme and Youth Information Centres. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people and involve approximately, 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country. In 2014, funding of €49.78m has been provided to my Department for these schemes.

Youth organisations and projects in receipt of funding are required to complete an annual application form for my Department. The process also involves the submission of an annual progress report detailing the services provided and the cohort of young people who participate in youth activities.

In recent years, my Department, along with all government departments, has been required to deliver substantial savings on all funding programmes in line with the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure 2012-2014. My Department, in determining the annual allocations for youth programmes, while having regard to the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure savings requirements, has sought to ensure that, as far as is possible, the focus is maintained on the front line youth services particularly those for the most vulnerable young people.

The question of additional funding to my Department to support the provision of youth services is a matter for consideration in the context of the annual Estimates and Budgetary processes and having regard to the resources available to the Government.

I, and officials of my Department have met, and continue to meet regularly, with youth organisations and groups. Earlier this month, over 2 days, I met with the representatives of some 30 national and major regional youth organisations. My aim is to see how we can work together to bring about the best possible outcomes for young people, having regard to resources available to us and to ensure that the programmes and services being provided are relevant and responsive to young people’s needs.