Trevor Sargent
Question:44 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation when decisions will be made on the funding for facilities for young people; and the criteria, if any, used in making these decisions. [11232/98]
Written Answers. - Facilities for Young People.
The Deputy will be aware that £20 million of the £30 million committed to the young people's facilities and services fund over the next three years will be targeted at the 13 local drugs task force areas. The guidelines for the operation of the fund in these areas were announced yesterday. I will forward a copy of the guidelines to the Deputy for his information.
These guidelines set out in general terms: the objectives of the fund in the task force areas; the process by which integrated plans for each area will be developed and assessed, and the broad criteria that will be applied in assessing the plans.
The guidelines provide for funding under five broad headings: the enhancement and integration of existing facilities and services for young people in the target areas; the development of new viable facilities and amenities, including sport and recreational facilities, in these areas where a gap has been identified; the development of strategies to attract at risk young people into the facilities; the development of additional youth services for the target group, and the provision of support to voluntary and community groups and organisations working with at risk young people.
I have written to the task force chairpersons asking them to convene the first meeting of development groups, comprising representatives from the local drug task forces, the relevant local authority and VEC, who will be responsible for developing integrated plans for their areas.
An assessment committee has also been established, chaired by the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, with representatives drawn from relevant Departments and agencies and the National Drugs Strategy Team, whose representation will include a voluntary-community representative, will assess all plans on the basis of the criteria established. It will make recommendations on funding to the Cabinet committee on social inclusion and drugs. The final decision to fund projects submitted will be taken by the Government on the recommendation of the Cabinet committee on social inclusion and drugs.
In broad terms, plans will be assessed on the viability and sustainability of the individual projects within the plan; the level to which they are integrated with other services and facilities; the extent to which they are additional and complementary with regard to existing facilities and services, and the extent to which they maximise the use of resources.
The remaining £10 million in the fund will be targeted at areas outside the task force areas where serious drug problems exist or have the potential to develop. The arrangements for the allocation of this money are being finalised and will be announced shortly.