Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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520. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which her Department continues to directly liaise with youth organisations with particular reference to the identification of issues of concern such as the provision of financial support in circumstances in which it is appropriate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43998/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department maintains close contact with the national youth organisations and I and officials from my Department meet formally with 30 national youth organisations twice a year to share knowledge and information on developments in the youth sector. My Department will also shortly commence a process with national youth organisations and local services to identify service development needs for 2018. Youth officers of the Education and Training Boards provide an important support role to my Department in the co-ordination and administration of youth services at a local level and keep my Department informed of issues which may require a follow up meeting between officials and youth organisations. Officials from my Department also meet with youth organisations on an individual basis from time to time when the need arises.

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 million has been allocated in current funding to support the provision of youth services. Budget 2017 and 2018 provided a total of €7 million extra funding for youth services. 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.

These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme under which funding is made available on an annual basis to thirty national and major regional youth organisations. In 2017, some €10.65 million has been allocated under this scheme, a 5% increase over 2016.

This funding is intended to ensure the emergence, promotion, growth and development of youth organisations with distinctive philosophies and programmes aimed at the social education of young people.

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.

In addition, I was pleased to approve the establishment the Local Youth Club Equipment Scheme in 2017 which will provide €6.35 million nationally. The primary focus of this scheme will be to assist volunteer led clubs and groups that work with young people in communities throughout the country. The scheme will allow for the purchase of equipment for sport, arts, adventure and other much needed items.