Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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358. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding available for youth services and youth development services in counties Sligo and Leitrim, with particular reference to areas of social and economic deprivation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16907/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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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 involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff working in youth services and communities throughout the country.

In 2017, €57.4 m has been allocated in current funding to support the provision of youth services, an increase of €5.5m. The 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 provides funding to Sligo/Leitrim Home Youth Liaison Service Project (€46,421 in 2017), Mohill Community Youth Project (€29,520 in 2017), Leitrim Youth Project (€86,803 in 2017) and Leitrim Traveller Youth Project (€15,103) under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme . In addition, Sligo Youth Information Centre has been allocated €66,921 in 2017.

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 through the local Education and Training Boards. The scheme is open to some 1,600 youth groups and clubs, with an estimated 89,000 club members around the country. The scheme, which is open to new entrants, is advertised locally and applications for funding are invited by the Education and Training Boards from local groups in their respective areas. Each year, some 600 local youth clubs benefit from the scheme. In 2016, €1.065m was allocated to this scheme, of which €58,568 was allocated to Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim Education and Training Board. In 2017, I have provided an additional 10% in funding to the scheme, brining the total allocation to €1.1715. My Department will be advising Education and Training Boards of their allocations later this month.

As the Deputy may be aware, a number of funding schemes supporting youth services were the subject of a Value for Money and Policy Review in 2014. Work on the development of a new funding scheme has been prioritised by my Department and consultations with youth services are continuing with a view to introducing the new youth funding programme as soon as possible. As part of this process, my Department has embarked on an exercise, in conjunction with Pobal and each Education and Training Board (ETB) Youth Officer, which will map youth service provision across the State. This mapping exercise will assist my Department and the relevant ETB in developing a detailed socio-demographic profile in terms of both population numbers and deprivation levels. It is my intention that this mapping exercise will inform future development and investment in youth services.