Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1998

Vol. 493 No. 3

Written Answers. - Youth Services.

Michael Ring

Question:

417 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation when the allocation of funding for youth and recreational facilities will be approved for local VEC's to administer in 1998; and if this scheme has been transferred to the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation. [16302/98]

Emmet Stagg

Question:

419 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the reason for the delay in informing vocational education committees of their allocation for 1998 of funding for their scheme of assistance for youth and sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15721/98]

Michael Ring

Question:

425 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if responsibility for administering the youth and recreational grant scheme has been transferred to his Department; and, if so, when funding will be available in 1998. [16273/98]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 417, 419 and 425 together.

Responsibility for the youth and sport grant scheme was transferred to my Department from the Department of Education and Science in July 1997 and notification of final allocations last year issued to committees in the final quarter of 1997.

In common with other sports programmes funded by my Department, this scheme is being reviewed in the light of a number of developments in progress at the moment including, in particular, preparations for the establishment of a statutory sports council, to ensure that expenditure is in line with current sports and recreation policy.

My particular concern is to ensure that Government funding for sport and recreation is well-focused, that unnecessary duplication is avoided, that arrangements are in place to ensure that expenditure is efficient and well co-ordinated and, where the VEC programmes are concerned, that the needs of the most deserving and vulnerable sectors of society are addressed.

In relation to funding for 1998, my Department wrote to the vocational education committees inviting proposals for funding under the scheme, having regard to the government priority to target programmes towards areas of social and economic disadvantage, and children and young people who are marginalised and at risk. These proposals have been received and are being considered in the context of the Department's review of the scheme. I hope to be in a position to finalise allocations to the vocational education committees for 1998 shortly.