The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. One of these schemes is the Youth Service Grant Scheme which provides support to national youth organisations. The Deputy might wish to note that under this Scheme funding amounting to €1,645,457 in 2012 is provided to the Catholic Guides of Ireland, the Irish Girl Guides and Scouting Ireland Ltd. In addition, the organisation referred to by the Deputy has received funding under the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme.
To support my Department's commitment to the development of quality, front-line youth projects and services which address the changing needs of young people and their communities, I have ensured that, as part of the Government's Capital Review published in November 2011, capital funding available for youth projects will increase to an annual amount of €1.5m in 2012. My Department is currently developing a strategy for the implementation and administration of this measure so as to ensure impact, resource effectiveness and value for money. Information in relation to the distribution of this funding will issue in the near future to administering agencies such as the Vocational Education Committees.
Subhead C.6 of Vote 43 for my Department also contains a funding resource allocation of €500,000 in 2012 to support community groups and organisations with an involvement in the provision of supports and services to children and young people under the application based National Lottery Funding Scheme. It will be open to the organisation to apply for funding from this source and details of the funding scheme, including the related application form, are available on my Department's website www.dcya.gov.ie.