Vol. 459 No. 8
110 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will place the funding for the National Youth Federation on a permanent basis in order to ensure that the out-of-school education recreational and leisure activities for young people can be properly developed. [19096/95]
The allocation of grants on a multi-annual basis is an issue which has in the past been raised with my Department by youth organisations and other bodies. However, as funding available to my Department is voted on an annual basis, my Department is precluded from making funding available on a multi-annual basis.
The National Youth Federation is in receipt of substantial annual funding from my Department under the youth service grant scheme. In addition, the federation receives substantial annual funding from my Department for a number of special projects for disadvantaged young people and youth information centres under its aegis in some areas.
