Vol. 572 No. 6
218 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the alternative supports envisaged for the Tallaght area to compensate for the reduction in support services for, in particular, voluntary youth workers arising from the reductions in real terms of funding for the Tal laght Youth Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24101/03]
Tallaght Youth Service receives funding from the youth affairs section of my Department under the special projects for youth scheme. A grant of €651,026 has been allocated to Tallaght Youth Service for 2003 and this represents a 1% increase over funding in 2002. This is in accordance with the general increase for youth work services this year. My Department's financial provision for Tallaght Youth Service represents a grant-in-aid allocation and is not, therefore, intended to cover the total cost of youth work activities. A renewed application for increased funding in 2004 will be considered in the light of available financial resources and existing commitments.
219 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science when it is proposed to establish the local authority youth council for the South Dublin County Council area as provided for in the Youth Work Act 2001. [24104/03]
A subcommittee of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee, which was appointed under sections 17 and 18 of the Youth Work Act 2001 to advise me on youth work and youth work policy, is currently providing advice to me in relation to the guidelines, regulations, etc., necessary for the further implementation of the Youth Work Act 2001, which includes the establishment of local voluntary youth councils.
Guidelines for the establishment of these councils, as prepared by this sub-committee, have been approved in principle by me and as part of its ongoing work, the sub-committee is currently drawing up standing orders for these councils. This is part of the ongoing preparatory arrangements necessary for the implementation of the Youth Work Act 2001. In these circumstances, it is not possible to indicate at this stage when the councils will come into operation.
220 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has to meet the Tallaght Youth Service to discuss funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24105/03]
My Department has no record of a request from Tallaght Youth Service for a meeting to discuss its funding level.
221 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science when the Minister of State with responsibility for youth affairs will meet the Dublin South-West Oireachtas Members to discuss funding of youth services in that area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24106/03]
My Department has no record of a request from the Dublin South-West Oireachtas Members to discuss funding of youth services in the area. Following her recent operation, the Minister of State will not be in a position to hold such a meeting for some time. However, a meeting with Department officials could be arranged in the interim if the Oireachtas members so wish.
222 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the commitments he can make to the Tallaght Youth Service that sufficient funding will be allocated to meet all benchmarking awards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24107/03]
The financial assistance made available by my Department to youth work organisations is in the form of grant-in-aid assistance to be supplemented by the organisations' own sources of income. My Department has no involvement in the salary scales of staff in such organisations. The question of the relevance or application of the benchmarking system in the case of youth work organisations is under active consideration at present and a decision will be conveyed to them as quickly as possible.
