Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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352. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the important role which an organisation (details supplied) and its regional staff hold in County Sligo, if he will confirm to the organisation that its Government funding will not be cut any further in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40275/14]

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 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.

My Department provides funding to the national organisation referred to by the Deputy under a number of schemes including the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth Scheme and the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund (Rounds 1 and 2). In 2014, total funding of over €7m has been allocated under these schemes.

I recently met with the representatives of some 30 national and major regional youth organisations and I was very impressed by their work. 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.

In this regard, I am pleased that there will be no reduction in funding for youth services in 2015. My Department will shortly commence work on the detailed 2015 allocations and youth projects and national youth organisations will be advised of their allocations as soon as possible.