Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Nov 1995

Vol. 458 No. 5

Written Answers. - Youth Services.

Brendan Smith

Question:

137 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Education if funding is available to her Department for Youth Services under the Operational Programme for Human Resources Development, 1994 to 1999, or any other operational programme or other EU programme; if so, the level of annual funding available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17366/95]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

My Department provides annual funding for the support of national voluntary youth organisations and their services, special projects for disadvantaged young people, youth information centres as well as other youth related activities. Funding in 1995 is £12.615 million. Funding is not provided, as such, for youth services under the EU-aided operational programmes. However, the measures funded by my Department under the operational programmes for human resources development, tourism and industrial development contribute significantly to the enhancement of educational and vocational training services for young people. The overall funding available to the education sector under these operational programmes is set out in the following table.

The community initiatives are intended to support measures which will help solve problems having a particular impact at European level. They support the development of transnational, cross-border and inter-regional co-operation and provide for a "bottom-up" approach to implementation. Youth organisations and groups are eligible to apply for funding under the following Community initiatives: the employment community initiative (Horizon, NOW and Youthstart); the adapt community initiative; the INTERREG community initiative (Cross Border and Maritime); the special community initiative in support of the peace process.

Under the Youth for Europe 3 programme youth organisations and groups may apply for funding to participate in transnational exchange activities. The programme is operated on behalf of my Department by Leargas — The Exchange Bureau and will run from 1995-99. There are 5 different actions in the programme, with action A dealing with the core area of youth exchanges. Funding available to Ireland in 1995 under action A alone will be over £250,000 approximately.

The Socrates European community action programme for transnational co-operation in the field of education aims to help improve the quality and relevance of education for children, young people and adults by enhancing European co-operation and increasing access to the range of learning opportunities available across the Union. The funding available under this programme is not allocated on a national basis. Proposals for funding for the different actions must be submitted to the European Commission in accordance with the guidelines for applicants. The guidelines also outline the activities that will be supported by the Commission. The national agencies responsible for the implementation of Socrates in Ireland are the Department of Education, the Higher Education Authority, Léargas — the Exchange Bureau, the National Distance Education Centre and the Linguistics Institute of Ireland.

The Leonardo da Vinci programme is a new vocational training programme which consists of a set of transnational Community measures covering both initial and continuing vocational training. The programme aims to sustain quality and support innovation in member states training systems through transnational pilot projects, transnational placement and exchange programmes, surveys and analyses, and complementary actions. As in the case of the Socrates programme, funding is not allocated on a national basis, rather it is allocated on the basis of established criteria by which projects are considered. The programme is managed by the Leonardo da Vinci National Co-ordinating Unit based in Leargas — the Exchange Bureau.

Community Support Framework 1994-1999

Measures Funded by Department of Education and Aided from Structural Funds

Measure	Total Expenditure 1994-1999	Total Aid 1994-1999
	£m.	£m.
Preventive Actions	21.000	15.750
Early School Leavers	64.278	26.770
Vocational Preparation and Training	316.867	212.628
Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme	91.808	61.419
Apprentice Training	62.166	46.625
Tourism Training	38.568	27.910
Certificate and Diploma Courses (RTCs/DIT)	568.296	263.557
Advanced Technical Skills	49.442	37.080
Graduate Training/Enterprise Development	8.395	4.487
In-Career Development (Training of Trainers)	48.059	36.043
Equal Opportunities Actions	3.500	2.625
Certification	11.195	8.395
Sub-Total: ESF-Aided Measures	1283.574	743.289
Vocational Training Infrastructure[ERDF AIDED]	182.130	103.625
Grant Total	1465.704	846.914

Brendan Smith

Question:

138 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Education the new initiatives, if any, which have been undertaken in 1995 by her Department under the youth services grant scheme and the special scheme for disadvantaged projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17367/95]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Four new initiatives have been undertaken by my Department in 1995 under the grant scheme for special projects to assist disadvantaged youth. These new projects will provide youth work services for disadvantaged young people in the following areas: Bishopstown, Cork city; Ballyphehane, Cork city; Listowel/North Kerry; Dolphin House, Rialto, Dublin city. There have been no new initiatives in 1995 under the youth service grant scheme.

Brendan Smith

Question:

139 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Education the specific allocation made in 1995 to each voluntary organisation and statutory body towards the provision of youth information services. [17368/95]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The following allocations were made available by my Department to voluntary organisations and statutory bodies towards the provision of youth information services in 1995:

	£
Catholic Youth Council	46,003
City of Cork vocational education committee	34,134
City of Galway vocational education committee	35,123
City of Waterford vocational education committee	20,909
County Dublin vocational education committee	47,957
Dún Laoghaire vocational education committee	45,959
National Youth Federation	257,685

Brendan Smith

Question:

140 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Education the specific allocation made to each voluntary youth organisation, vocational education committee and health board under the 1995 Youth Services Budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17369/95]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Final out-turn of allocations to all youth organisations, special projects for disadvantaged young people and other youth related activities which are in receipt of funding from my Department will be known at the end of December. Full details of allocations will be available in the 1995 Appropriation Accounts in due course. However, I will be happy to let the Deputy have a list of grant allocations in early January.