Jim Higgins
Question:578 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education the reason for the cutback in funding from £28,700 in 1990 to £4,325 in 1991 to Voluntary Services International, 37 North Great Georges St., Dublin 1.
Written Answers. - Voluntary Services International Funding.
My Department have funds at their disposal for the support of youth services generally and services for disadvantaged youth in particular. The youth service grants scheme is but one of the mechanisms under which grants are channelled to the service providers. The allocation in any one year under this particular scheme takes many factors into account including the total allocation available for youth services and changes in emphasis between services funded through the youth service grants scheme and other schemes, including a special scheme for the disadvantaged. The grants paid to individual organisations under the youth service grants scheme do not, therefore, necessarily represent the full funding available to them under the youth service programme nor do they fully reflect the priorities set out within the programme.
The distribution of funds in 1991 continued the change of emphasis from general services to services specifically aimed at the disadvantaged and there are no plans to change this approach now.