Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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421. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to subsidise and make the cost of youth clubs and summer projects cheaper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29955/15]

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 €49.9 m was provided to my Department for these schemes. There was no reduction in the funding for the youth services in 2015 which was a key priority for the national voluntary youth organisations.

The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme supports youth work activities at a local level. These grants are made available to all youth clubs and groups through the local Education and Training Boards. The scheme is open to some 1,600 youth groups and clubs, with an estimated 89,000 club members around the country. In 2015, €1.035m has been allocated to this scheme. The scheme, which is open to new entrants, is advertised locally and applications for funding are invited by the Education and Training Boards from local groups in their respective areas. Each year, some 600 local youth clubs benefit from the scheme.

The question of additional funding for the youth services is a matter for consideration in the context of the resources made available to my Department in the estimates and budgetary process and having regard to the priorities identified in the new National Youth Strategy for 2014-2020.