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Departmental Budgets

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 July 2013

Thursday, 4 July 2013

Questions (51)

Michael Colreavy

Question:

51. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her priorities for budget 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32599/13]

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Written answers

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs was set up to drive the delivery of key commitments in relation to children and young people. It was established in June 2011 with a mandate to put in place a unified framework of policy, legislation and provision across Government in respect of children and young people.

The responsibilities of my Department encompass a wide range of policy and service activity, both direct and indirect, for children and young people in Ireland. It has a complex mandate, comprised of a number of separate, but interrelated strands including:-

- the direct provision of a range of universal and targeted services;

- ensuring high-quality arrangements are in place for focused interventions dealing with child welfare and protection, family support, adoption, school attendance and reducing youth crime;

- the harmonisation of policy and provision across Government and with a wide range of stakeholders to improve outcomes for children, young people and families.

Funding requirements and how resources should be prioritised and allocated across each area of Government spending are generally considered as part of the annual estimates cycle and budgetary process. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this time on any future decisions that may be taken by Government in the context of Budget 2014 on the expenditure allocations for programmes and services falling within the Vote of my Department. However, my overall objective will be to realise funding allocations that reflect expenditure policy priorities and that sufficient resources are directed towards those areas of greatest impact on children and young people.

Question No. 52 answered with Question No. 39.
Question No. 53 answered with Question No. 41.
Question No. 54 answered with Question No. 40.
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