Micheál Martin
Ceist:179 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide two separate budgets for youth organisations, one for salaries and one for a budget programme. [19149/96]
Written Answers. - Youth Organisation Budgets.
My Department makes funding available for the support of national and major regional voluntary youth work organisations through the youth service grant scheme. Within the available resources, each qualifying organisation is provided with a block grant on the basis of information supplied in its application regarding its youth work programme, staffing and administrative expenses, and on the basis of the Department's assessment of its ongoing effectiveness.
The funding provided under the youth service grant scheme is a grant-in-aid in respect of the youth work programmes and services of the organisation as a whole and it is a matter for the organisation itself, subject to compliance with Departmental requirements concerning ongoing effectiveness etc., to decide on issues such as the numbers and salaries of its staff. The Department considers, therefore, that the allocation of separate grants for the salary and programme costs of an organisation is not warranted.