Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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142. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps he will take to protect funding for the 600 Foróige youth clubs which engage in a range of projects and programmes; if he will continue to ring-fence the funding these services require; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26715/15]

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 2015, funding of €49.9m has been provided to my Department for these schemes. There has been no reduction in the overall allocation for youth services in 2015. This was an important priority for the voluntary youth organisations that have a key role in the provision of quality youth work services for young people.

In 2015, funding of €6,945,538 has been allocated by my Department to Foróige to support the provision of services for young people including the local services provided by Foróige for young people who are at risk of disadvantage. The €6,945,538 Foróige is receiving in funding in 2015 comprises €2,551,737 under the Youth Service Grant Scheme, €1,658,828 under the Young People Facilities and Services Fund (1 & 2) and €2,734,973 under the Special Projects for Youth scheme.

To support youth work activities at a local level, my Department operates a Local Youth Club Grant Scheme on an annual basis. This Scheme is administered by Education Training Boards on behalf of my Department and is advertised locally each year. Despite the cuts in the funding available for youth services, the level of funding for clubs and groups under the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme has been maintained at €1.035m each year since 2011. Some 600 local youth clubs benefit annually from the Scheme which is open to all local youth groups and clubs, including those run by Foróige.