The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector. These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2, Local Drug Task Force Projects.
Funding of €53.173 million has been provided to my Department for the provision of youth services in 2013. Of this total funding, €1.75 has been provided in a new capital funding programme for 2013.
Details of the funding allocated in the years 2008 to 2013 are currently being collated within my Department and will issue directly to the Deputy.
In addition, a total of €2.2m has been allocated by my Department to support the provision of youth cafés, to date. The first tranche of funding was provided over 2010-11 under a dedicated competitive scheme operated for the Department by Pobal.
An additional €200,000 was made available by my Department in December 2011 to support a further 18 youth projects in providing or maintaining youth cafés facilities. Capital funding of €0.5m was also allocated for the provision of Youth Cafés in 2012.
The Department estimates that between 75-100 youth café facilities now operate across the State.
Details of the criteria for the 2013 capital funding of €1m to support youth cafés were announced by my Department last week and are available on the Department's website.
