Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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204. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she and bodies under the aegis of her Department maintain regular and adequate contact with the various youth groups throughout the country with particular reference to identifying their needs and taking on board their anticipated requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52684/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Youth Officers of the 16 Education and Training Boards operating country wide provide an important support role to my Department in the co-ordination and administration of youth services at local level across the country. In order to keep my Department informed of their ongoing work, officials hold quarterly meetings attended by all Youth Officers from across the country. These meetings assist my Department in identifying service needs and emerging issues, particularly for vulnerable young people. 

My Department also maintains close contact with the national youth organisations and my officials and I meet formally with these organisations twice a year to share knowledge and information on developments in the youth sector.

My Department works closely and meets regularly with the national and major regional youth organisations, including the National Youth Council of Ireland, which has a representative role for the voluntary youth services.

My Department also 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.

In 2018, €58.9 m has been allocated in current funding to support the provision of youth services.  

In addition, I was pleased to approve the establishment the Capital Funding Scheme in 2018. The primary focus of this scheme is to provide small to medium capital grants to qualifying youth projects which are in receipt of funding from this Department.  Some €2m has been made available nationally.