Written answers

Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Youth Services Funding

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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423. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will confirm the level by which funding to Youth Services has been cut since 2012, both in the country in general, and more particularly in County Waterford; the number of jobs estimated to have been lost in the sector throughout the country, and specifically in County Waterford, as a direct result of the cuts in funding; his views that this is a vital preventative programme working with the most marginalised and disadvantaged young persons in the community, and it is essential that funding levels be restored as quickly as possible; his plans to re-instate the cut funding in the upcoming budget; the extent to which the funding will be re-instated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18416/15]

Photo of James ReillyJames 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 2015, funding of €49.93m has been provided to my Department for these schemes. Over the period 2012 to 2014, my Department, as with all Government departments was required to deliver substantial savings on all major funding programmes under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure 2012 - 2014. In line with these savings requirements the reduction in finding provision for the youth services over the period amounted to approximately 18.75%. This takes into account an allocation of €1m provided in Budget 2014 to offset the impact of the savings requirements on the youth services. My Department in determining the annual allocations to youth programmes, while having regard to the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure savings requirements, sought to ensure that, as far as possible, the focus was maintained on the frontline youth services, particularly those for vulnerable young people.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that there has been no reduction in the overall allocation for youth services in 2015 which was a key priority for youth organisations. An allocation of €1.92m has been made for the provision of youth services in Co Waterford in 2015. In 2014, an allocation of €1.92m was made and in 2013 and 2012 allocations of €1.99m and €2.28m were provided to support local youth services.

In recent years capital funding has been allocated by my Department for capital projects in the youth services. This included provision to support youth cafes, refurbishments, equipment and other capital works projects.

Capital funding was allocated to youth services in County Waterford as follows:

- 2012 - Capital funding of €32,700 to support 2 Youth Cafes;

- 2013 - Capital funding of €100,000 to support 2 Youth Cafes;

- 2014 - Capital funding amounting to €20,142.87 was made available to fund small capital projects in the youth services in the Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board area. Three local youth projects received grants under the scheme.

Information on the numbers of workers and volunteers involved in the provision of youth services throughout the country including in Co Waterford is not readily available in my Department.

I am aware of the challenges that the youth services have faced in recent years in continuing to provide high quality services that meet young peoples needs. I, and officials of my Department have met, and continue to meet regularly, with youth organisations and groups. In January and February, officials of my Department met with the representatives of some 30 national and major regional youth organisations to discuss recent and upcoming developments and to hear their plans for the services in 2015. 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.

My Department is developing a new National Youth Strategy. It will be a universal strategy for all young people aged 10-24 years and will have a particular focus on those young people who are most marginalised or at risk and who have the poorest outcomes and therefore who are most in need of support. The National Youth Strategy is being developed in close consultation with the statutory youth interests and the voluntary youth organisations and services that work with young people. The Strategy recognises the importance of quality youth work programmes and services that are evidence based, preventative, and designed to secure optimal outcomes for young people. My Department is working to finalise the new National Youth Strategy by the Summer.

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