Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 12 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 2

Written Answers. - Youth Services.

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

233 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 6,000 young people aged between ten and 18 were involved in all aspects of youth work in Tallaght in 2002, that cuts in the youth work budget would have a negative impact on the work carried out by the Tallaght Youth Service and that this would mean cuts for Tallaght Youth Service in staff, in summer programmes, training and financial assistance to youth groups; and if funding will be increased for such programmes by ?5 million in line with the campaign launched by the NYCI. [26739/03]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

234 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 6,000 young people aged between ten and 18 were involved in all aspects of youth work in Tallaght in 2002, that cuts in the youth work budget would have a negative impact on the work carried out by the Tallaght Youth Information Centre and that the cuts for Tallaght Youth Information Centre will result in the closure of the youth information point in Brookfield and a reduction in the service available in the youth information centre on the Main Road, Tallaght; and if funding will be increased for such programmes by ?5 million in line with the campaign launched by the NYCI. [26740/03]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

235 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 6,000 young people aged between ten and 18 were involved in all aspects of youth work in Tallaght in 2002, that cuts in the youth work budget would have a negative impact on the work carried out by the YMCA in Tallaght, that the cuts would mean the organisation will have to choose between paying staff and cutting programmes and that by April 2004, the YMCA rent will have been increased by ?1,500 in two years; and if funding will be increased for such programmes by ?5 million in line with the campaign launched by the NYCI. [26741/03]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

236 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 6,000 young people aged between ten and 18 were involved in all aspects of youth work in Tallaght in 2002, that cuts in the youth work budget would have a negative impact on the work carried out by the Tallaght Youth Theatre and that the cuts would mean that supports from the National Association for Youth Drama might be withdrawn causing significant hardship; and if funding will be increased for such programmes by ?5 million in line with the campaign launched by the NYCI. [26742/03]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

237 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 6,000 young people aged between ten and 18 were involved in all aspects of youth work in Tallaght in 2002, that cuts in the youth work budget would have a negative impact on the work carried out by Scouting Ireland in Tallaght and that the cuts would mean that some of their units might have to close; and if funding will be increased for such programmes by ?5 million in line with the campaign launched by the NYCI. [26743/03]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

238 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 6,000 young people aged between ten and 18 were involved in all aspects of youth work in Tallaght in 2002, that cuts in the youth work budget would have a negative impact on the work carried out by Foróige in Tallaght and to what the cuts would mean for the 17 Foróige clubs in Tallaght; and if funding will be increased for such programmes by ?5 million in line with the campaign launched by the NYCI. [26744/03]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

239 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 6,000 young people aged between ten and 18 were involved in all aspects of youth work in Tallaght in 2002, that cuts in the youth work budget would have a negative impact on the work carried out by the Girl Guides of Ireland in Tallaght and the cuts for the Girl Guides of Ireland clubs in Tallaght could lead to the closure of clubs; and if funding will be increased for such programmes by ?5 million in line with the campaign launched by the NYCI. [26745/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 to 239, inclusive, together.

I am aware of the number of young people involved in the various aspects of youth work in Tallaght, both now and in 2002. I am also conscious of the issues and concerns being raised by the youth work sector in general regarding future funding for the sector both nationally and regionally. I am particularly aware of the concerns raised by the organisations to which the Deputy refers, that is, Tallaght Youth Service, Tallaght Youth Information Centre, YMCA in Tallaght, the Tallaght Youth Theatre, Scouting Ireland, Foróige and the Girl Guides of Ireland.

Consideration will be given to these requests for additional funding in the youth work sector in the context of the 2004 Estimates provision.