Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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74. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason funding has been withdrawn from an organisation (details supplied) in respect of a number of youth projects, namely Roscommon town, Castlerea, Arigna and Ballaghaderreen in County Roscommon and also Castleblakeney in County Galway; the reasons for the closure of each of the specific projects in each location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6715/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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It is important to note at the outset that there is no reduction in funding for youth services in Roscommon North East Galway. My Department withdrew funding from the Special Projects for Youth project in Ballygar, County Galway in early 2016 as Youth Work Ireland Roscommon North East Galway had moved the service elsewhere without my Department's permission and no service was being provided in the area. My Department did not provide funding for youth services in Castlerea or Arigna in County Roscommon or in Castleblakeney, County Galway, as suggested by the Deputy.

The decision to withdraw funding from the Special Projects for Youth projects in Ballaghaderreen and the Youth Information Centre in Roscommon town, both of which were operated by Youth Work Ireland Roscommon North East Galway, was arrived at based on a Finance and Governance Review and a Service Review of the organisation that were carried out on behalf of my Department its funding intermediary, the City of Dublin Youth Service Board. Following engagement with Youth Work Ireland Roscommon North East Galway, my Department received no assurances that the youth services being provided in Ballaghaderreen and in Roscommon town were to a level that met the needs of young people in these towns. Nor was my Department provided with any assurances as to the organisation's capacity to support, operate and manage the provision of quality youth services and to make good use of Government funding for these purposes.

It is important to note that the Department's decision to cease funding to Youth Work Ireland Roscommon North East Galway was supported by Youth Work Ireland's National Office and by the Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board, which has a statutory role in the provision of youth services.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board is putting in place replacement quality youth services in all three locations from this month onwards, on a transitional basis, with more permanent targeted services to be in place from later this year.