The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of some €53.498m is available in 2013 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2 and Local Drugs Task Force Projects. These funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 400,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 paid staff and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country.
The funding under the above schemes is administered on behalf of my Department by 33 administering bodies which in the main are Vocational Education Committees. Funding in the region of €1.2m was paid to the VECs in 2012 by my Department to cover administration costs. These administration costs also include assessment and coordination functions by these bodies in relation to the projects within their area of responsibility.
Grant aid funding of €1.74m is being provided to VECs to cover the costs of the youth officer salaries in 2013.
All of the funding provided by my Department to support the provision of youth services is by way of grant aid from a non-pay subhead.