Home > Dáil Éireann debate. Written answers 1098 & 1099 - Youth services. [17457/13 & 17458/13].

[Oireachtas] Dáil Éireann debate. Written answers 1098 & 1099 - Youth services. [17457/13 & 17458/13]. (16 Apr 2013)

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1098. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the priority she is giving to the frontline workers in the Clondalkin and Lucan Youth Services, Dublin; if she will outline the impact the planned cuts will have on these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17457/13] 

1099. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the frontline workers in the Clondalkin/Lucan Youth Services are dealing with one of the most vulnerable and at risk groups in the greater Dublin area and the rise in crime, drug use, drug trafficking, anti-social behaviour, youth pregnancy and school absenteeism are at risk of dramatically increasing if the planned cuts are implemented; if she will reconsider her policy of funding youth cafés and continue to maintain the funding for frontline workers in youth work in Clondalkin and Lucan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17458/13]
 

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I propose to take Questions Nos. 1098 and 1099 together.

 

The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of some €53.173m is available in 2013 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2 and Local Drugs Task Force Projects. These funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 400,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 paid staff and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country.

 

The overall funding of €53.173m available for the provision of youth services in 2013 includes capital funding of €1.75m. €1m of this capital funding is being made available for the provision of new youth cafés in 2013. I do not accept the need; as the Deputy seems to be suggesting; for a review of my decision to allocate this funding in 2013 for the development of new youth cafés. The availability of capital funding in 2013 reinforces the Government’s commitment to the extension of quality youth café throughout the country, in particular noting the repeated emphasis that young people have placed on the need for safe, alcohol-free recreational facilities. Since becoming Minister I have been greatly encouraged by the quality of the projects that have already been grant-aided under previous Youth Café funding schemes.

 

The savings required under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure in respect of 2013 amounted to €5.393m which equated to almost a 10% reduction on 2012 funding available for the provision of youth services. Having regard to the savings requirements identified in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure my Department has tried to ensure that, in the determination process for the allocations, the front line youth services, particularly those for the most vulnerable young people are protected as far as is possible from the impact of any necessary reductions in funding.

 

My Department has tried to be as equitable as possible in achieving these savings. In considering how best to manage within the reduced budgets available, organisations are being asked to consider the scope for reducing administration costs and overheads, if this is at all possible, in order to maintain the front line youth services for young people. I have met with many youth organisations and groups to try and see how we can work together to minimise the impact of these necessary savings.

 

The funding allocated for the provision of youth services in Co. Dublin is administered by Co. Dublin VEC on behalf of my Department. It is open to that body, as it is to all bodies administering funding to youth services/programmes on behalf of my Department, to submit proposals to my Department to reconfigure the allocations made by the Department, based on their local knowledge and expertise in relation to the youth projects in their area. Co. Dublin VEC submitted such proposals to my Department and following consideration in the Department these proposals were approved. It is my understanding that Co. Dublin VEC have consulted with the projects in the Clondalkin/Lucan area and assured them of their continued support for these projects in managing the resources available in the most effective and efficient way.

 

In 2013, the youth funding amounting to almost €1.5 million has been allocated to services in the Clondalkin and Lucan area. This includes:

 
€262,331
Young Peoples Facilities Services Fund 1
€479,965
Young Peoples Facilities Services Fund 2
€666,373
Youth Information Centre
€49,001
Traveller Development
€33,545
In addition, Co. Dublin VEC disperses small grant support, funded by my Department, to local voluntary youth clubs in the Lucan & Clondalkin areas. The Deputy should note that under the Comprehensive Review of expenditure, I have ensured that there has been no cut to the total national funding being provided by my Department to support the local voluntary youth club grant schemes as this funding plays an important role in supporting volunteer-led youth groups and in promoting and leveraging valuable voluntary activity in youth work.

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