asked the Minister for Education if it is his intention to assist in any way St. Ann's Youth Club, Sligo.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sligo Youth Club.
31.
There are no funds available to my Department from which financial assistance might be paid towards individual youth clubs.
Under my Department's grant-in-aid scheme for youth, grants are allocated to the national governing bodies of the various youth organisations only. This is felt to be the most effective way to utilise the resources available.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary any say in how the national body disburse the grant-in-aid?
In a general way we discuss their over-all policy with national governing bodies who receive grant aid. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate it would be an invasion of their status as voluntary bodies if we sought to direct them as to how they should apply their general policy in individual cases.
Have any youth clubs got grant assistance?
I understand that at least one of the national governing bodies makes grants available to its constituent clubs for purposes which are perhaps in line with those he has in mind for St. Ann's Youth Club in Sligo. I cannot make any further statement in relation to the decisions which that national governing body may have taken.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell me why the application for a grant made by St. Ann's Youth Club in Sligo was not replied to?
By whom?
By the Parliamentary Secretary.
I am not aware that I received any application.
I have an acknowledgement of it from the Parliamentary Secretary.
In any event it would not be a matter on which I would be able to make a decision because, as I have outlined, their application in the first instance should be addressed to the national governing body.
Are we to take it from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply that the Department of Education have never paid a grant direct to an individual youth club?
Not to my knowledge.
That is a separate question.
Money has been made available towards the provision of physical education equipment in community centres but not to youth clubs per se.
What is St. Ann's Youth Club? That is what they applied for.
In view of the fact that I held the position at one time and know that in fact grants were issued direct to certain youth clubs I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary to make himself better acquainted with the work of his Department.
I have explained that the scheme which was operated was for physical education equipment in community centres. It was not a scheme for youth clubs and I am not aware that any application has been received from St. Ann's Youth Club.
Question No. 32.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary now stating that youth clubs should not qualify for anything and that they should change their name?
Deputy MacSharry, the Chair has passed on to the next question.
I am not saying that.
The Parliamentary Secretary is not interested in youth clubs at all.
If the youth club can conform with the requirements for a community centre then, of course, it can be considered for a grant-in-aid under that scheme.