Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 November 2021
331. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is discretionary funding available for a group (details supplied) in County Kerry to help with electricity and insurance costs for its premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55245/21]
View answerThe Deputy might be aware that the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme supports volunteer-led youth work activities at a local level by providing small grants towards the costs of running youth clubs and groups. These grants are made available to all eligible youth clubs and youth groups through the network of 16 Education and Training Boards who advertise the scheme annually and administer the funding on behalf of my Department at a local level.
In 2021 funding of over €2.257m was made available nationally for the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme which included an allocation of €60,241 to Kerry Education and Training Board.
In June this year I also approved funding of €1.4m to administer a minor grant scheme to support youth services and youth clubs with expenditure associated with the cost of re-opening following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Eligible costs included the purchase of consumables or eligible overheads, incurred over the period 1 March to 31 December 2021 due to the imposition of Covid-19 restrictions or arising from steps to re-open in line with Government guidance.
This funding was distributed between the 16 Education and Training Boards to provide financial support to the youth services and youth clubs within their functional area. A funding allocation of €26,313 was provided to Kerry Education and Training Board for this purpose and grants of up to €400 were available to eligible youth clubs under the scheme.
Organisations wishing to obtain more information on the funding available under these schemes should contact Kerry Education and Training Board which is administering this funding on behalf of the Department.
