Vol. 468 No. 2
128 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to target increased youth resources including youth workers and funding for youth centres, at deprived urban districts in view of the vulnerability of these areas to drug-related crime. [14919/96]
The Youth Affairs Section of my Department administers a scheme of grants in respect of special out-of-school projects for disadvantaged young people. Grant-aid is allocated to organisations and groups for specific projects which seek to address the needs of young people who are disadvantaged due to a variety of socio-economic factors, including drug-related crime.
Initial allocations, involving increased resources for many existing initiatives, were notified by my Department in May of this year. Consideration of proposals submitted in relation to the provision of additional services is currently under way, within the context of remaining resources available for youth services in 1996.
It is also envisaged that additional resources will be made available to the National Youth Health Programme, which is currently engaged in developing support materials for youth workers in dealing with drugs education/prevention for young people.
