Vol. 443 No. 4
43 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Education her views on whether funding made available by her Department for youth services in County Roscommon is adequate; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there has been no increase in this funding since 1988; and the proposals, if any, she has to meet the realistic needs of funding services for young people in County Roscommon and other counties.
The Youth Affairs Section of my Department administers grants in respect of the youth service grant scheme, special projects for disadvantaged youth, youth information, youth exchanges, etc. The total allocation in the past few years was:— 1992: £10.806 million; 1993: £11.452 million an increase of 6 per cent approximately; 1994: £12.064 million an increase of 5.34 per cent.
Under the youth services grant scheme my Department provides the grants to the national youth organisations and it is entirely a matter for them to decide on the allocations to their individual regions. My Department has no function whatever in this matter.
The Roscommon Youth Service is affiliated to the National Youth Federation and receives grants under the youth service grant scheme. As indicated, it is a matter for the National Youth Federation to decide on the allocations to its individual regions.
In 1993 and 1994 the National Youth Federation received grants of £1,167,200 and £1,188,000 respectively under the youth services grant scheme. These figures included "once-off" grants of £50,000 in 1993 and £25,000 in 1994 as well as the standard increases.
