Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012
538. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if Dublin Vocational Education Committee is administering the youth grant for the entire country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54082/12]
View answer546. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs regarding Student Universal Support Ireland grants to students, the reason that it was deemed necessary to give the authority to Dublin VEC to distribute Student Universal Support Ireland grants to students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53987/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 538 and 546 together.
In 2012, €39,712,927 will be distributed by my Department to 477 youth projects throughout the country. The allocations are distributed to the youth projects through 39 administering agencies/bodies that hold funding administration status. These include VECs, national youth organisations and 11 other bodies including some county councils. The City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB), a statutory board established in 1942, under the City of Dublin VEC, is one such body. The CDYSB, on behalf of City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee (CDVEC), has for several years, undertaken the administration of some 50 youth projects in the Dublin City area and has developed a strong track record in managing these payments.
My Department is examining the scope for streamlining tasks associated with the financial management of funding for projects to achieve greater efficiency in the administration of funding. From January 2013 it is proposed to transfer the administration of the allocated funding involving six national organisations to CDYSB. These six national bodies are currently responsible for administering funding to some 30 youth projects on behalf of my Department. The initiative is subject to the successful completion of a service level agreement between my Department and the CDVEC. The proposed revised administration process will be monitored during 2013 for efficiency and effectiveness for the Department and for the projects concerned. Subject to a successful transition to the new system it is proposed that consideration will be given to further streamlining financial processing arrangements in 2014.
It is envisaged that the successful streamlining of the administration of the funding for the youth projects will deliver benefits in terms of saving on the administration costs incurred under the present arrangements and efficiencies for both the Department and projects themselves. It is estimated that the current arrangements for distribution of grants involve an average administration charge of approximately 5% at a total funding cost of the order of €1.6m per annum.
Every effort is being made by my Department to ensure that, in the administration of the funding allocations in the present challenging budgetary situation, the focus is maintained on the provision of the front line services for young people. The VECs have a statutory role in the provision of youth services and there is no intention on the part of the Department to curtail this role. Indeed it would be the hope of the Department that, in reducing the administrative burden in relation to the funding of projects, the role of youth officers, in supporting youth projects in the delivery of a quality youth service to young people, would be strengthened. The VECs will continue to receive funding from the Department in respect of this role including for the costs of the youth officers employed by them. My Department will communicate further and hold discussions about the proposals for change with the remaining organisations that administer funding on its behalf during the course of 2013.
