asked the Minister for Education the criteria used by his Department in allocating youth and sport grants to various vocational education committees and the basis on which a grant of £2,500 to Kildare VEC for 1979 was made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - VEC Youth and Sport Grants.
20.
I am satisfied that the grant of £2,500 allocated to Kildare Vocational Education Committee under the special scheme of grants to vocational education committees for youth and sport activities, which was initiated in 1978, was justified. These grants were allocated following consideration of: (1) the population of each committee area and its apparent needs; (2) the use which committees had made of their 1978 allocation; and (3) the initiatives which individual committees had taken in the interests of youth and sport.
The Minister said one of the criteria used by his Department in allocating these grants was population. Is he satisfied that the grant to Kildare of £2,500 is fair when counties with a lower population got £5,000 and £7,000?
I mentioned the population, the use which committees made of their 1978 allocation and the initiatives taken. All three are taken together when deciding the amount of the allocation. I am satisfied the allocation in this case was justified.
Would the Minister explain what criteria were used when the allocation to Cavan was three times that granted to Kildare?
Each increase was in accordance with the overall percentage increase from £100,000 to £172,950. If the Deputy examines the figures carefully he will see that the Kildare increase was in accordance with the national average increase.
Some county committee areas with lower populations than Kildare got much bigger grants. The population increase in Kildare is the third highest in the land.
The Deputy's concern for Kildare is commendable but——
But not as great as the Minister's concern for Cavan.
The Deputy knows quite well that the Minister of State in my Department deals with this area, and I am convinced from an examination of the circumstances that Kildare was not treated unfairly.
How can the Minister stand there and say that Kildare was not treated unfairly when other counties with lower populations got double and treble the allocation made to Kildare?
The decision was made in my Department on the amount submitted by Kildare. The decision was also made after consideration of the performance the previous year and on population.
The population of Kildare is the highest in the country for a similar area.
Am I to understand that the Minister made an allocation over and above the normal to County Cavan just because he happens to be a representative for that county?
The question is a specific one relating to County Kildare. We are widening its scope.
The question is general. I am asking what are the criteria used in the allocation of these grants.
I have told the Deputy what the criteria are. I am quite sure that my Department behaved justly and equitably in regard to each committee area and in accordance with the criteria outlined.