Vol. 493 No. 5
261 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide details of the eligibility conditions and the criteria for selection in respect of the youth services fund for which a sum of £7.5 million has been earmarked for 1998; the number of applications received to date; the number approved; and the expenditure approved in respect of each approved project. [16771/98]
I am arranging to have a copy of the guidelines for the operation of the young people's facilities and services fund and the detailed eligibility and evaluation criteria for developing and assessing plans forwarded to the Deputy.
In regard to the receipt of applications, the Deputy will be aware that local development groups are being established in each of the local drugs task force areas to draw up an integrated facilities and services plan. The plans will be submitted, via the relevant local drugs task force, to the Assessment Committee, which is chaired by the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation with representatives from the relevant Government Departments and agencies and the national drugs strategy team. The Assessment Committee will assess all plans on the basis of criteria established and will make recommendations, via the interdepartmental group, to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs regarding the allocation of funding to support the implementation of the plans.
The detailed arrangements regarding the allocation of funding to projects outside the local drugs task force areas are being finalised.
