Youth Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023

Tuesday, 14 November 2023

Questions (455, 456)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

455. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that there were 52 cases lodged in relation to the alleged abuse within an organisation (details supplied) in the High Court as of February 2023 in Ireland, and an additional case facing ,he will confirm how many more cases have arisen, either in the Republic or the North, since February 2023; and if his Department has asked the organisation for a list of its assets and their value in order to estimate how it can cover the costs of all of these cases. [49770/23]

Seán Sherlock

Question:

456. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of assets owned by an organisation (details supplied) being transferred into trusts; and if his Department is concerned that the movement of assets could be seen as an attempt by the organisation to put some of its assets outside the reach of victims of child abuse. [49771/23]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 456 together.

The organisation referred to by the Deputy is a voluntary body, governed by its own Board. It receives some of its funding from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and raises other funding through member subscriptions and fund raising.

My Department provides funding to this organisation primarily through the Youth Service Grant Scheme. The Youth Service Grant Scheme has governance controls in place to ensure the appropriate use of public monies. Funding to this organisation is made available on the basis of an application process. This application process involves the outlining of specific deliverables related to the provision of services, and funds allocated to any organisation must be accounted for within specific budgetary streams related to these deliverables.

The organisation's litigation and asset control is a matter for their Board.

Question No. 456 answered with Question No. 455.

Question No. 457 answered with Question No. 451.