Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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1306. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there is grant aid available to a scout group (detail supplied) to assist it in acquiring some land or the use of some land to further its activities. [13802/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. The funding available from my Department is to support the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth work sector. My Department does not provide funding for organisations to purchase land.

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, including to local Scout groups, through the local Education and Training Boards. The scheme is open to some youth groups across almost all ETB areas and the 11th Cork Scout Group may wish to make an application for funding.

In 2017, almost €1.2m has been allocated to this scheme, a 10% increase over 2016. The scheme, which is open to new entrants, will be advertised locally and applications for funding are invited by the ETBs from local groups in their respective areas. Each year, some 600 local youth clubs benefit from the scheme. Cork ETB will be advertising the scheme on their website over the coming months.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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1307. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will report on her visit (details supplied); the assurances she gave during the visit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13816/17]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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1309. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will report on her visit to a community centre (details supplied); the detail of the assurances she gave during the visit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13960/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1307 and 1309 together.

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 involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country.

Budget 2017 provided an additional €5.5m in current funding to my Department to support the provision of youth services. This will bring the total youth funding in 2017 to €57.4m. This additional funding is being used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people and to assist national youth organisations in their work to support local voluntary youth services. My Department has notified national organisations of their 2017 allocations in the past month.

Fettercairn Community and Youth Project is funded under my Department’s Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund. This fund 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. In 2017 this project received an allocation of €49,718, an increase of 5% over its 2016 allocation.

I was delighted to visit Fettercairn Community Centre, which hosts Fettercairn Community and Youth Project on 8th March. During my visit I met with representatives of the youth service and with the wider community. I was pleased to assure those present of my continued support for the provision of youth services, into the future.