Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 4

Written Answers. - Young People's Facilities and Services Fund.

Noel Ahern

Question:

142 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if, in relation to the young persons' youth facilities services fund, he will amend the rules and criteria to clubs and community groups, technically outside the area partnership area, to be considered and approved; and if he will advise and recommend that applications from groups (details supplied) be open to consideration. [22834/00]

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

The primary focus of the young people's facilities and services fund has been on local drugs task force areas where the heroin problem is most acute. In these areas, development groups, comprising representatives from the local drugs task force, local authority and VEC were established to develop integrated plans on the basis of detailed guidelines approved by the Cabinet committee on social inclusion. These plans were considered by the national assessment committee, chaired by the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, which evaluated them and made recommendations on their funding to the Cabinet committee on social inclusion. All funding earmarked for the local drugs task force areas under the current phase of the fund has been allocated.

In relation to the eligibility of the club in question for funding under the fund, the national assessment committee agreed in December last, on foot of a request from the development group in Finglas-Cabra, that a proposal submitted by the club at that time would be considered in the event of funding being decommitted from within the existing plan for the area. This would be on the basis that the development group itself prioritised the proposal for funding. This decision was conveyed to the development group at the time. To date, no proposal has been received from the development group for the decommitment of funding from within the existing plan.