Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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330. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the 2020 funding allocations for youth organisations under the youth service grant scheme will be made and communicated to beneficiaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50719/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Youth Service Grant Scheme (YSGS) provides funding, on an annual basis, to 30 national and major regional voluntary organisations to support the provision of youth services nationwide. The continued funding of voluntary youth organisations through the Scheme 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 funding allocations for 2020 to all organisations, including YSGS funded organisations, are currently being finalised within my Department.

My Department is currently processing the funding renewal applications received on behalf of the national youth organisations. Every effort will be made to complete this process as soon as possible and all youth organisations in receipt of funding for 2020 will receive notification of their funding allocation at the earliest possible date. An update to this effect was provided to representatives from the youth organisations involved in the Youth Services Grant Scheme at recent meeting on 2nd December.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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331. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she plans to launch the new targeted youth funding scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50720/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am currently working closely with Government colleagues and the officials in my Department to complete the final phase of preparation of the targeted youth funding scheme, with a view to launching the scheme before Christmas.

The targeted youth funding scheme will streamline and strengthen four existing, overlapping schemes.

The new scheme is designed to support for young people who are marginalised, disadvantaged, or vulnerable and whose outcomes fall short of general population outcomes. It aims to provide services that support young people to develop the personal and social skills required to improve their life chances, including with respect to their health, education, employment and social connectedness.

The design of this scheme has been the subject of considerable collaboration with the youth sector over the last five years. Once the scheme has been launched, applications will then be opened in 2020, with a view to having the scheme fully operational before year-end 2020.