asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that the Scout Association of Ireland are in financial difficulties; and if he will make a supplementary grant of at least £15,000 to enable the association to continue their valuable work at their present standard.
Written Answers . - Scout Association of Ireland .
171.
: The Federation of Irish Scout Associations, which comprise the Scout Association of Ireland and the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland, were allocated £31,000 this year plus a special grant of £4,000 for the international camp to be held at Woodstock, County Kilkenny, next August.
The chairman of the federation, in a recent letter, said that the grant was most welcome and appreciated and would significantly assist their efforts to provide for their young members. At the same time, he indicated that their rapid growth in membership was causing financial strain.
I regret that I am not in a position to increase the grant in the current year.