Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 December 2004
150 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science the assistance by way of grants or otherwise that is available to committees which wish to establish youth clubs or facilities, particularly in large urban areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32635/04]
View answerThe youth affairs section of my Department administers a number of schemes which give assistance to youth clubs and organisations throughout the country. The local youth club grant scheme was introduced in 1999. The scheme aims to make provision for the support of youth work activities at a local level. These grants are made available to youth clubs and groups through their local vocational education committee. This scheme encompasses a number of grants, including a start-up grant which is designed for new youth groups in need of assistance to begin their programmes.
The special projects for youth scheme makes grant-in-aid available to organisations and groups for specific projects which seek to address the needs of young people who are disadvantaged due to a combination of factors, including substance abuse, homelessness and inadequate take up of ordinary educational opportunities. While my Department has overall responsibility for the allocation of funding, projects are administered on the ground largely by grant administering agencies, which include vocational education committees and national youth organisations such as the National Youth Federation, Foróige and Catholic Youth Care.
