Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
163. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide details on the progress that has been made on the national rollout of the youth café initiative; her plans for future development of the network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17264/13]
View answerFunding of up to €1 million is available in 2013 from my Department for fit-out, refurbishment works or building enhancement projects for the startup of new Youth Cafés. One of the core functions of a youth café is that it offers support to young people, ranging from practical support to advice through their participation in activities that are of interest to them and that are varied and on offer at times that suit their normal activities. In awarding funding, my Department will endeavour to ensure that there is a geographical spread of youth cafés from the funding commensurate to existing provision in the area.
Applications are only eligible from community and voluntary organisations with a minimum of three years experience of working with young people and the delivery of youth services. Details of the scheme and the guidelines for applicants are set out on my Department’s website. Pobal is assisting my Department in managing the Youth Café Programme 2013.
The closing date for applications was last Friday, 12 April. The appraisal process will take place up to the end of May and those applicants who successfully make it through the first phase will proceed to phase 2 of the application process at the end of which, those successfully through that phase, will receive funding approval from my Department.
The €1m in funding available for the Youth Café scheme in 2013 will bring the total funding provided for Youth Cafés to date to €3.2m. It is estimated by my Department that 75-100 youth café facilities now operate across the State. These facilities are proving hugely beneficial to local communities in terms of broader engagement with young people. In addition, my Department supports a range of youth services and volunteer-led youth groups which offer similar resources and spaces for young people locally.
Under the 2012 Irish Research Council Research Development Initiative, co-funded by my Department and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, a research project is underway in the National University of Ireland, Galway to examine the impact of the youth café initiative. It is expected that this research will be completed by the end of 2013 and the results of this will be taken into consideration in the deliberations by my Department concerning the future direction of youth café development.
