Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 May 2012
113 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has any contingency plans to deal with the fall-out of the cuts affecting disadvantaged young persons, cuts to drugs services, Travellers' education services, the Canal regional youth services and other youth projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23996/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra126 Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has any contingency plans to deal with the fall-out of the cuts affecting disadvantaged young people, cuts to drugs services, Travellers' education services, the Canal regional youth services and other youth projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23997/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 126 together.
The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. These include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund (Rounds 1 and 2) and certain other provisions including the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, Youth Information Centres, European Youth in Action Programme (administered by Léargas — The Exchange Bureau) and Gaisce — the President's Award. These programmes support the delivery of youth services to some 500,000 young people by approximately 1,100 youth work personnel and a volunteer base which is estimated to be of the order of 60,000.
The main objectives of my Department are to develop and implement coherent, coordinated and relevant youth policies and strategies to support the youth sector in providing effective non-formal education and developmental opportunities for young people through which they can enhance and develop their personal and social skills and competencies. Funding of some €56.806m for current expenditure and €1.5m for capital expenditure is available from my Department in 2012 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities.
In light of the significant reduction in the overall current budget for the youth sector the emphasis has been on preserving front line youth services. In determining financial allocations to initiatives and schemes in 2012 officials from my Department have met with representatives of the youth sector on an ongoing basis with a view to determining how best to minimise the impact of the reduction in the 2012 budget on youth services.
With the support of the Centre for Effective Services (CES), the Youth Affairs Unit is currently developing an overarching Youth Policy Framework (YPF). The Framework will clarify and enhance coherence, connectivity, coordination and delivery in youth services and related out-of-school time services for young people in the 10-21 year age range. In that context, it is my intention that this framework will facilitate and promote co-ordination and cohesion across Departments and services which will enable the most effective use of the resources available.
