Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

510. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding allocated in 2013 and 2014 for Youthreach projects; the number of Youthreach projects in operation in 2013 and 2014; the number of students in Youthreach programmes in 2013 and 2014; the agreed or preferred funding allocation from her Department per capita for each Youthreach project in 2013 and 2014; the agreed or preferred allocation from her Department to be held by the Education and Training Board for administration of the individual Youthreach projects; and if she will provide a comparison for 2013 and 2014 of the total and actual spend per student in a Youthreach course compared to the total and per capital funding for a student in comparable secondary school. [36845/14]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The funding provided for the Youthreach Programme was €69.6 million in 2013 and €69 million in 2014. The number of centres in operation in 2013 and 2014 was 110. There were 3,692 places available on the Youthreach Programme in 2013 and again in 2014.

Funding for the Youthreach programme is allocated by SOLAS to Education and Training Boards who operate the centres in their region. It is a matter for each ETB to decide on the funding arrangements for the Youthreach Programme under their remit. My Department does not have data on the costs of administering the programme by the ETBs per centre or on the cost of the programme per centre.

There is no comparable provision in second level education to the Youthreach programme. The Youthreach programme provides two years integrated education, training and work experience for unemployed early school leavers without any qualifications or vocational training who are between 15 and 20 years of age. Learners in Youthreach receive a weekly training allowance and can access childcare supports.