My Department provides funding for the support of voluntary youth work to national and major regional voluntary youth organisations through the youth service grant scheme. The purpose of this scheme is to ensure the emergence, promotion, growth and development of youth organisations with distinctive philosophies and programmes aimed at the social education of young people.
Scouting Ireland receives funding on an annual basis under the scheme. This funding provides financial support towards staffing and administration costs, as well as for the operation of scouting programmes and the support of scouting units throughout the country. No request has been received to date by my Department to provide funds specifically for the purpose in question by the Deputy.