Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2013
567. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will support funding for an adequate youth service throughout County Laois, which means a county-wide service, which is not possible to achieve on the funding available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22647/13]
View answerIn 2013, my Department will provide some €53.498m to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. This funding will support youth work programmes and services serving some 400,000 young people, delivered by over 1,400 youth work personnel, who in turn support a large volunteer base of some 40,000.
The Comprehensive review of Expenditure published in December 2011 sets out clearly the savings required from my Department in each of the years 2012, 2013 and 2014. The CRE contains a detailed seven page chapter outlining savings required from youth work funding. The CRE requires a 10% saving in 2013, with a lesser saving in 2014. The Comprehensive Review of Expenditure further provided that there were no reductions in 2012 or 2013 in funding for the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme which provides funding to volunteer-led youth clubs and groups throughout the country.
The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department funds Laois Youth Services under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme and the allocation provided by my Department in 2013 is €83,796. In addition €20,304 has been allocated to Co. Laois Vocational Education Committee in 2013 for distribution to local voluntary youth clubs and groups under the Local Youth Service Grant Scheme.
Having regard to the savings requirements identified in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure which amount to €5.393m in 2013, my Department has tried to ensure that in the determination process for the allocations the front line youth services, particularly those for the most vulnerable young people, are protected as far as is possible from the impact of any necessary reductions in funding.
There is no doubt that the current budgetary situation is challenging for many organisations. In considering how best to manage within the allocations available organisations are being asked to consider the scope for reducing administration costs and other overheads and to work closely with their local VEC that administers the funding on behalf of my Department, in order to maintain the front line services for young people particularly for those young people who may be disadvantaged.
With respect to future funding provision, a Comprehensive Value for Money Review of youth funding has been commenced and this report is expected later this year.
My Department is developing a new youth policy framework for publication later this year. The new youth policy framework will aim to enhance the provision of youth services and activities and it will, inter alia, promote co-ordination between government departments and youth sector organisations with a view to maximising the effectiveness of the State funding available to support services for young people in future years.
