Seán Fleming
Question:1930. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she will provide a staffing grant to an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25453/16]
View answerFriday, 16 September 2016
Questions (1930)
Written answers
The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of €51m for current expenditure is available from my Department in 2016 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people. It is estimated that the voluntary youth services involve approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working throughout the country.
Mountmellick Youth Development Association is currently not funded under the Department of Children and Youth Affairs funding schemes. The focus of the budget provision for the Youth Affairs Unit in recent years was on consolidating and maintaining, insofar as possible, existing programmes and services for young people. I regret that, in this context, it will not be possible to consider Mountmellick Youth Development Association as a new application for funding in 2016.
You will be aware that a number of funding schemes supporting youth services were the subject of a Value for Money and Policy Review. The review involved an in-depth scrutiny of the impact youth service provision has on young people’s lives. The review made a number of recommendations for the future operation of the youth schemes and their development in the years ahead. The work on the development of a new funding scheme has been prioritised by my Department and consultations with youth services are continuing with a view to introducing the new youth funding programme in line with the Value for Money and Policy Review of Youth Programmes over the coming years.