Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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192. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 621 and 625 of 10 October 2017, when a decision will be made in respect of the funding of a programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44199/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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In 2017, funding of €57.4m has been provided to my Department for various youth schemes, an increase of €5.5m over 2016. 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 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. These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, amounting to €10.65m in 2017, under which funding is made available on an annual basis to thirty national and major regional youth organisations. 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.

Scouting Ireland receives grant aid on an annual basis under the Youth Service Grant Scheme. Details of the funding allocated to Scouting Ireland by my Department since its establishment in 2011 are outlined as follows.

In addition to the above, Scouting Ireland was allocated €150,000 in current funding in 2015 and a further €200,000 in Dormant Accounts funding in 2016 to support the Operation Lelievlet youth employment initiative.

Scouting Ireland also received €49,630 under the capital funding scheme for youth projects and services in 2016 to fund the improvement of disability access and security at Scouting Ireland.

In 2015 €30,000 was also allocated to Scouting Ireland to assist it with its budget sustainability to the year end.

In addition to the grant funding provided to Scouting Ireland in 2017 an additional application for funding has been received for funding for its AcadaMoot Programme and a decision on this application will be made as soon as it practicable, and Scouting Ireland will be notified in due course.