asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that St. Michael's parish youth project has applied for a grant from national lottery funds for an alternative education and training project (details supplied); whether a grant will be payable; if so, the amount of the grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - National Lottery Allocation.
285.
I am aware of the application made by St. Michael's parish youth project for an alternative education and training project. The position is that all applications for assistance from the special fund of £4 million for disadvantaged youth, established in my Department from the proceeds of the national lottery, were considered by an interdepartmental committee on disadvantaged youth. This committee drew up a programme of support from the very many individual applications received, the value of which far exceeded the amount available for grant-aid. It was simply not possible to assist all the proposals submitted.
St. Michael's parish youth project was one of the applications in respect of which it was not possible to allocate a grant this year. However, this group has recently been informed that it may now submit (through Comhairle le Leas Óige) an update of its proposal for consideration in the context of whatever funds may be made available in 1989 for disadvantaged youth projects. The project will also have to be considered in the context of the recently launched joint Departments of Education and Labour initiative for early school leavers.
I would like to say that St. Michael's parish youth project already received a grant of some £40,000 in 1988 from my Department from the proceeds of the national lottery. This grant is administered through Comhairle le Leas Óige.