Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

361. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the protocols for winding down youth services; why youth services are unable to hold reserve funding accounts to allow for insurance of workers and the transition of young persons to other relevant services were the youth service to close; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11934/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services by the voluntary youth sector, 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. The voluntary youth sector involves approximately 1,400 paid staff, including youth workers and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country. In 2016, current funding of €51m has been provided to my Department for these schemes, an increase of €1.1m over 2015.

Funding is distributed by my Department in line with the rules and guidelines for public expenditure published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Circular 13/2014 sets out the requirement for the management and accountability for grants from exchequer funds.

There is an on-going requirement that savings or surpluses arising over the course of a year should be notified to my Department. Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 13/2014 also provides that in certain circumstances, year-end balances may be retained by the grantee if deemed necessary to meet outstanding financial requirements, subject to certain criteria.

A youth service that is experiencing difficulty in the provision of services to young people is advised to make contact with the youth officers of the local Education and Training Board so that a meeting may be arranged promptly to address the situation.

In recent years, my Department has been in a position to provide ‘once-off’ funding to assist youth projects in certain circumstances. The youth projects came to my Department's attention through engagement with the national youth organisations, youth officers in the Education and Training Boards, through representations and submissions received and through regular meetings with youth services in the course of the year.

Officials of my Department have met, and continue to meet, regularly with many voluntary organisations and groups providing services to children and young people 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.