Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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254. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the budget allocation for Youthreach programmes in 2014, 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017; the number of Youthreach centres; the budget allocation for each Youthreach centre for 2014, 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017; and the percentage of this budget for each centre that is withheld by the relevant ETB for administrative purposes for each of those years, in tabular form. [16210/17]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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255. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the overall budget for Youthreach centres for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16211/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I propose to takes Questions Nos. 254 and 255 together.

The attached table outlines the budget allocation for the Youthreach programme in 2014, 2015 and 2016.  It is anticipated that the allocation for 2017 will be similar to that of 2016. There are currently 110 Youthreach centres spread across the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs).

My Department provides funding for further education and training programmes, including Youthreach, to SOLAS who in turn allocates this funding to ETBs.  Further distribution of this  funding to Youthreach centres under their remit is a matter for each ETB.  My Department does not hold any information on the allocation of funding by ETBs to individual Youthreach centres.

There are no specific plans to increase the budget for Youthreach in 2018.  The Deputy should note that SOLAS determines how overall FET funding is distributed across the various FET programmes.