Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2013
568. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if funding for youth services which was traditionally paid through Youth Work Ireland is now being channelled through the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee which has no experience in dealing with youth services in various counties throughout the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22648/13]
View answerThe 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.
In 2013, €53.498m will be distributed by my Department to the youth sector. The allocations are distributed to the youth projects through 33 administering agencies/bodies that hold funding administration status on behalf of my Department. These include VECs, national youth organisations and other bodies including some county councils and the City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB), a statutory board established in 1942, under the City of Dublin VEC. Up until January 2013, there were 39 administering bodies including Youth Work Ireland involved in this process.
In January 2013 the funding administering tasks carried out by Youth Work Ireland, along with 5 other bodies, were transferred to the CDYSB. The purpose of the transfer is to secure greater efficiency in the administration of the funding to local projects.
Under the arrangement the CDYSB carries out certain payment tasks for the Youth Work Ireland projects on behalf of my Department. All decisions in relation to the allocations to be provided to the projects are made by my Department.
Furthermore, Youth Work Ireland as the umbrella body for the projects in question, may submit proposals to my Department to reconfigure the allocations to projects having regard to its expert knowledge of the needs of young people using its local services. All such proposals are subject to approval by my Department.
In 2013 €4.681m has been allocated to Youth Work Ireland projects throughout the country.
