Vol. 513 No. 6
103 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if discussions have concluded between officials in his Department and the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation on the future role of partnerships in tackling educational disadvantage; the recommendations of his officials regarding the future development of projects for disadvantaged youth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3337/00]
Under the new national development plan more than £400 million has been provided under the regional operational programmes in a special sub-programme for social inclusion. My colleague, Deputy Eoin Ryan, Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, in a recent reply to this House, indicated that these moneys will be directed at activities currently carried out by the area-based part nership companies and ADM supported community groups, the local task forces, and the development groups of the young peoples facilities and services fund. Actions will be supported under the social inclusion measures on the basis of integrated local action plans, which will be formulated by the above groups as appropriate, in consultation with the director of community and enterprise and the city and county development boards.
Discussions are continuing between officials of my Department and the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation on the future role of partnerships in tackling educational disadvantage which will include projects for disadvantaged youth. My Department's special projects scheme for disadvantaged youth, administered through vocational education committees as part of our overall provision for youth services, forms part of this Department's response to meet the needs of disadvantaged young people. The future development of such projects will be considered in the context of the financial allocation for youth services in 2000 and the overall integrated approach.
I fully support the integrated planning approach being adopted by the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation in regard to the disbursement of available resources.
