Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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1138. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the investment by her Department since March 2016 in County Louth and parts of east County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34062/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I can inform the Deputy that my Department has significant investment across a range of the functions for which I have responsibility, all to improve outcomes for children and families in line with our National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, Better Outcomes Brighter Futures. This includes investment in childcare, family supports, youth programmes and investment in services for children and families by Tusla which is funded through the Vote for my Department. Records in relation to expenditure are not generally recorded on a constituency basis or from a particular month during a year, so I am not in a position to give the Deputy the exact information requested. However, the examples below will illustrate to the Deputy the significant investment by my Department that supports children and families in Louth and Meath.

The most significant area of investment is in the area of childcare - Community Childcare Subvention Scheme, ECCE Programme and supports provided to and through the Meath and Louth County Childcare Committees -The total spend for the programmes year 2016/2017, are €10,232,516.46 for Louth and €15,676,150.78 for Meath ..

Access and Inclusion Model (AIM)

AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive support based on the needs of the child and the preschool setting.

Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme

Under the Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme, the Genesis Programme (led by Louth Leadership Partnership) received funding from DCYA and Atlantic Philanthropies. The ABC Programme is a time bound co-funding arrangement for the period 2013-2017. The total agreed grant allocation for The Genesis Programme (2014- 2017) stands at €1,803,379 including development funding of €12,850. In 2016, the programme received €452,837 in ABC funding.

Tusla Monies spent on the Family Resources Centres Programme, Community Counselling Grants, and Services for Victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the Louth Constituency (including parts of East County Meath)

Play and Recreation

Youth Schemes and Allocations related to Counties Louth and Meath for 2016 and 2017

My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country and funding is allocated on an annual basis. The funding allocation for counties Meath and Louth for 2016 and 2017 is outlined as follows:

Special Projects for Youth Scheme (SPY)

Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) 1 and 2

Local Youth Club Grant Scheme

Capital Funding Louth Meath ETB

Youth Work Function

Youth Employability Initiative

*This scheme did not operate in 2017

VFMPR Sample Project