Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2004
331 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason funding is not being made available under the YPFSF for activities being organised for children aged under ten years; if he will widen the remit of the YPFSF to include persons under ten years; his views on whether organised activities for persons under ten years are particularly important in some neighbourhoods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29931/04]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the young people's facilities and services fund, YPFSF, was established in 1998 to assist in the development of facilities, including sport and recreational facilities, and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. The fund is aimed at young people in the ten to 21 age bracket as this is considered the age group potentially most at risk of drug misuse and, in particular, opiate misuse. In addition, it should be noted that the youth initiatives funded under the YPFSF are guided by the Youth Work Act 1997 and, more recently, the Youth Work Act 2001, which states that youth services should have particular regard to the youth work requirements of persons who are aged between ten and 21 years and are socially or economically disadvantaged.
To date, more than €75 million has been allocated under the fund to support in the region of 450 facility and services projects. This includes the €13 million worth of allocations I announced earlier this year for more than 100 proposals under the second round of the fund. Through the new funding being allocated, a number of new youth and community centres will be built and a wide and diverse variety of youth work projects across the 14 local drugs task force areas are being supported. Substantial funding is also being made available towards the staffing and operational costs of a number of larger community-youth centres built under the first round of the fund.
While the primary focus of all YPFSF funded facilities is on the ten to 21 age bracket, the Deputy should note that their use by the wider community, including by children younger than ten years old, is also accommodated. There are no plans at present to broaden the remit of the YPFSF.
