Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Jan 1994

Vol. 437 No. 6

Written Answers. - An Óige Funding.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

616 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education whether, in view of substantial State moneys made available to the An Óige Hostel Movement, an annual report is sought and furnished from An Óige; and whether any discussion takes place in relation to the development or otherwise of the movement and, in particular, in relation to any decisions involving the closure and sale of hostels such as the one in Kinsale, County Cork.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

My Department provides annual funding to An Óige under the youth service grant scheme in respect of core staff and day-to-day administration costs. In 1993, the grant was £91,000.

Under the conditions for this scheme, fully audited accounts and an annual report must be submitted to my Department by every youth organisation in receipt of funding including An Óige.

Officials from my Department meet representatives from youth organisations, including An Óige, on an ongoing basis. However, the closure or sale of any hostel is entirely a matter for An Óige in which my Department has no function and whose views are not required to be sought.

I understand that An Óige took its decision to close the Kinsale Hostel following a fire officer's report on the premises which in its view, would have cost a prohibitive sum to implement. I should mention in this regard that the youth service grant scheme does not permit the funding of capital works such as the renovation of hostels.