Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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273. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she continues to support the various programmes of Kildare youth services, with particular reference to the need to ensure supportive measures in their efforts to meet challenges as identified by them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22626/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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274. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the full extent of grant aid or other support available through her Department to the various youth organisations throughout the country, including County Kildare, in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22627/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 273 and 274 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 involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff working in youth services and communities throughout the country.

I am pleased to confirm that I have allocated an extra €5.5m in current funding to support the provision of youth services in 2017. This will bring the total youth funding by my Department to €57.4m, an increase of 10% over last year's allocation. 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.

In 2017, an amount of €525,425 was allocated for the projects and services under Kildare Youth Services, which operates under Youth Work Ireland. My Department provides funding to Kildare Youth Services under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme in respect of six local youth projects in Athy, Naas, Leixlip, Newbridge, the Curragh and Kildare town and a Youth Information Centre in Naas.

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 2017, I have provided an additional 10% in funding to the scheme, bringing the total allocation to €1.1715, of which €102,624 was allocated to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board. The scheme was advertised by Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board last week and I am advised that the closing date is 26th May next.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has provided an allocation to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board for the provision of a full time youth officer for County Kildare in 2017. I am advised that this post has been advertised by the ETB I expect that the post will be filled shortly. In the interim, the ETB has a Youth Officer in place who is very active in both counties.