The youth affairs section of my Department administers a scheme of grants in respect of special out of school projects for disadvantaged young people. Grant aid is made available to organisations and groups for specific projects which seek to address the needs of young people who are excluded or marginalised due to a combination of socio-economic factors.
Youth services in the Ballymun area and in the Dublin city area generally are administered, on behalf of my Department, mainly through the City of Dublin Youth Service Board (Comhairle le Leas Óige), the youth work sub-committee of the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee. Commensurate with its responsibilities in this area, the City of Dublin Youth Service Board has submitted proposals for some restructuring of the Ballymun Youth Service which seek to refocus activities in order to enhance provision, particularly for those young people who are most severely disadvantaged.
I understand that these proposals, which are currently being considered by my Department, were drawn up following research into the needs of the area and consultation with a broad range of community interests.