Vol. 553 No. 4
78 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the procedures in place in relation to the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund to ensure that public moneys are being properly spent and that taxpayers' interests are adequately protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14205/02]
The projects included for funding under the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund were approved by the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion on the basis that the channels of funding for the projects would be the local authorities for the capital projects and the vocational education committees for the current service projects.
My Department notified these agencies in 1999 of the guidelines for the operation of the fund, the implementation procedures and general conditions for funding. They also received a list of the approved projects appropriate to each area and the maximum grant amounts in each case. The projects were referred to each VEC and local authority covering the 13 local drugs task force areas to oversee their implementation in consultation with the local development groups and project promoters.
In addition, my Department sanctioned additional temporary staff for the vocational education committees and local authorities for the administration and implementation of the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund projects. My Department also emphasised to the funding agencies that their normal reporting and financial terms and conditions must apply to the projects.
My Department is satisfied that the arrangements I have outlined have been put in place by the funding agencies.
