Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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429. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his Department has received a funding application in respect of a youth facility (details supplied) in County Kildare; the status of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30160/15]

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. 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.

My Department has not identified a recent application for funding for the facility indicated in the details supplied by the Deputy.

I am advised that the application from the Hub Youth Café was successful under the 2013 Capital Funding Scheme for new Youth Café facilities, and that the project was provisionally allocated an amount of €50,000 towards the cost of a new Youth Café. I understand that the project is now working with Pobal to develop the project to the next stage of development.

Youth Cafés offer young people a safe, alcohol and drug free space, for recreation, non-formal learning and youth activities. Over the period 2011-2013 capital funding made available to my Department has supported the development of some 100 Youth Café facilities throughout the country. Youth Café facilities will continue to be a priority should further capital funding become available to my Department in future years.