Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 March 2009
209 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the concerns expressed by a council (details supplied) in County Donegal at the termination of a youth project, she will make funding available to allow the project to continue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9737/09]
View answerI understand that the youth project concerned is the Gweedore Youth Project, Co. Donegal. An application for funding was received by the Department of Education and Science, on behalf of this project in 2008 under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme. This was one of 85 new applications received under the Scheme in 2008. The Department of Education and Science was not in a position to approve funding for the project in 2008 owing to budgetary constraints and the high level of existing commitments in the sector.
As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for Youth Affairs transferred to the Department of Health and Children with effect from 1 January 2009. In light of budgetary constraints in 2009 and in an effort to consolidate and preserve existing provision, the Youth Affairs Section of this Department will not be in a position to consider any new applications for admission to this Scheme in 2009.
