Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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399. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to outline the extent to which her Department continues to support an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19134/18]

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, an amount totalling €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.

In addition, last year, I announced the Local Youth Club Equipment Scheme, the first scheme of its type in over a decade. Some €6.35 million was made available nationally in 2017 to volunteer led clubs and groups that work with young people in communities throughout the country. The scheme allowed for the purchase of equipment for sport, arts, adventure and other much needed items. Some €6.35 million was made available nationally, of which more than €230,000 has been allocated in respect of clubs and groups operating in Kildare and Wicklow.

In 2018, €58.9 million has been allocated in current funding to support the provision of youth services. The funding allocations to all organisations to support the provision of youth services throughout the country, including Kildare Youth Services, are currently being finalised within my Department.