asked the Minister for Education what financial assistance and other State aid has been made available for the provision of youth centres; in what manner it will be applied; and whether particulars will be published to make interested groups aware of the provisions of the scheme.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - Youth Centres.
82.
The Deputy will recall that the Minister for Finance in his Budget speech announced that a sum of £100,000 was being provided for youth and recreational activities. The number of applications received for a share of this money was such that the examination of them has taken a considerable time. Having completed this examination it will be necessary to determine the activities in respect of which a grant might be paid. Some further time must elapse before this can be done.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say if many applications have been made to his Department?
I could not give the exact number.
This is my question and I think I ought to be entitled to ask a supplementary. Could the Parliamentary Secretary enlighten me as to the amount of money provided in the Budget for this desirable project and as to how, precisely, the leaders of group centres may seek to avail of it, by way of application or representations, as the case might be?
I gave the amount of money in the reply—£100,000.
How does one set about getting it?
Any youth organisation or any organisation dealing with recreational activities for youth may make application to the Department for consideration in the allocation of the grants.
Is it intended that this sum will be allocated in the current year?
Yes.
When does the Parliamentary Secretary think the allocation will commence?
I think the Deputy will appreciate that there are some difficulties. This is a new item in the Budget. I feel that it is necessary to make a very thorough examination of the applications. Personally, I have tried to interview as many of the applicants as possible and am at present interviewing four to five groups per day. If there is any group who wish to make application, I would ask them to do so and give as much information as possible in the application to help us in our consideration.
It would appear to many people in the working-class areas who are searching for sporting facilities that it would be easier for them to obtain a grant to build a factory than to start up a youth centre.
This does not arise.
It is purely an expression of opinion on the part of the Deputy.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that £100,000 is totally inadequate to fund a very important scheme of this kind?
The Deputy will agree that a major step was taken in last year's Budget in providing this sum. I am quite happy to see this start being made. Although the sum is £100,000, I feel that we can do some good with this. It is money that was not available to these organisations before now.
The Parliamentary Secretary says that he is seeing four to five deputations per day. Could I ask him on how many days he sees these four to five deputations?
Usually during Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Three times four or five adds up to 15. If you divide 15 multiplied by the number of weeks into £100,000 it does not look as if we will get many youth centres in the near future.
I think the Deputy is being facetious.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say if he is confined to spending this money on youth centres or can it be given as salaries to coaches, or something like that?
Generally, we are keen on assisting coaching, youth centres, providing facilities and assistance to sporting organisations. I would ask all of these organisations to bear in mind that the sum available is £100,000 and that their requests be made in the full knowledge of that fact and in a reasonable way, knowing that whatever help is given cannot exceed £100,000 in this financial year.
Apart from the provision of £100,000, I specifically asked what other form of State aid was available by way of grant or loan to groups for the purpose of forming youth centres. What else is there, besides the meagre £100,000 which the Parliamentary Secretary has the invidious task of allocating?
The Department give grants to Comhairle le Leas Óige in Dublin and to Macra na Tuaithe and other organisations dealing with youth. If the Deputy wants the figures he might consult the Book of Estimates or put down a Parliamentary Question for answer next week.