Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 1

Written Answers - Youth Services.

Finian McGrath

Question:

328 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if maximum assistance and funding will be provided for the community development Priorswood Youth Project (details supplied) in Priorswood, Dublin 17. [8678/03]

Gay Mitchell

Question:

329 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will make a statement on the concerns of a number of organisations (details supplied) regarding the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund and the need to have these mainstreamed under the national development plan for young people living in the areas covered by the local drugs task forces; if this was considered by the Cabinet sub-committee; and his views on their request. [8688/03]

Liz McManus

Question:

336 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has received correspondence from Bray Local Drugs Task Force which has expressed its disappointment regarding the delay in the provision of funding for capital and services projects under round II; and his views on same. [8912/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Mr. N. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 328, 329 and 336 together.

The national assessment committee of the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund, which is chaired by my Department, is currently examining the services projects funded under round I of the fund. The intention would be where they are found to be effective, they will be mainstreamed, thereby enabling their on going provision by statutory agencies.

Qualification for continued funding will be dependent on the successful evaluation of each project, including Priorswood Youth Project, by the services steering group, which has been set up to examine the projects, and sufficient funding being in place.

The work of the steering group should be completed over the coming weeks with a view to the NAC making recommendations to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion shortly thereafter. The Cabinet committee recently considered a number of issues in relation to the operation of Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund, including the question of round II allocations. The matter remains under review.