The Youth Affairs Section of my Department provides grant-in-aid assistance to support the operation of 32 Youth Information Centres throughout the country whose purpose is to provide young people with information on a wide range of issues in a suitably conducive atmosphere.
There are no Youth Information Centres in Counties Leitrim, Longford, Cavan, Meath, Louth, Offaly, Laois and Carlow. Applications were received for funding for a Youth Information Centre in County Louth but it has not been possible to provide funding for this centre because of finite financial resources and in light of other commitments to the youth work sector.
A consultant's review has recently been completed for my Department which will help inform the future direction of youth information provision. Future funding applications for proposed new centres will be examined having regard to the outcomes of this review process. I would like assure the Deputy of my commitment to continued support of the youth sector in Ireland and its work.