asked the Minister for Education why he did not approve a grant for the development of youth activities as requested by the County Dublin VEC.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Youth Activities Grant.
22.
The grant to which the Deputy refers was requested in January, 1976, and would have involved Government spending of the order of £20,000 per annum in the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee area with very substantial further Government spending also in some 30 other vocational education committee areas. It was not possible in existing financial circumstances to approve of such a grant.
Is there any prospect of affording an extension in the area of youth activities in County Dublin?
In the past number of years there has been a very significant improvement in the general provision for youth facilities in the Dublin area with grant increases to the major youth organisations active in the Dublin area in excess of 200 per cent in the following cases, the Catholic Youth Council, the Federation of Scouts and Macra na Tuaithe which would probably be the major ones active in County Dublin. These have received very substantial increases in grants. As regards the specific type of aid mentioned by the Deputy, this is something that will be reviewed continually in the light of the changing financial situation.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that Comhairle le Leas Óige were willing two years ago to extend their services to the county and to allocate portion of their total budget to it?
I am aware, as possibly the Deputy is also, that discussions at my initiation are taking place at the moment between the various vocational educational committees to see if an arrangement can be arrived at whereby Comhairle le Leas Óige which operates now under the Dublin City Vocational Committee might within its existing budget make some provision for areas in the Dublin area not within the city boundary. The important factor to be borne in mind here is that any such provision to be made in consequence of the talks now taking place would be within the existing budget of Comhairle le Leas Óige.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that each year the Minister for Education signs a statutory order which enables Comhairle le Leas Óige to operate outside the city of Dublin Vocational Education Committee's area?
There was a phrase in an order which was made by the Minister referring to an agreement. In fact, the order was incorrectly drafted in the sense that no such agreement existed.