Written answers

Wednesday, 2 December 2015

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

19. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will re-introduce funding for the young people's facilities and services fund; his views on the substantial benefits this will have for young persons in their formative years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42688/15]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department administers a number 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, current funding of €49.78m has been provided to my Department for these schemes.

The Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund is one of five such schemes. It was established by the Government in 1998 to assist in the development of preventative strategies in a targeted manner through the development of youth facilities, including sports and recreational facilities, and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. There are 282 youth projects funded under the scheme and in 2015, €18.4m was allocated under this fund.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that Budget 2016 has provided an additional €1.1m in current youth funding to my Department bringing the total allocation to €51m to support the voluntary youth services in 2016. The additional funding will be used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people, including the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund, and to assist national youth organisations in their work to support local voluntary youth services.

In addition, €2.75m in capital funding has been allocated to my Department in Budget 2016. In the main, this funding will be used to support smaller scale projects, such as refurbishments, health and safety works, and accessibility improvements in youth services, including youth projects funded under the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund.

My Department has commenced work on the detailed allocations for the national youth organisations and local services and projects funded under the various schemes. Every effort is being made to notify youth organisations and projects of their 2016 allocation as soon as possible. Details of the new capital funding scheme will be announced early in the New Year.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.