Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2015
392. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on the value for money review of youth programmes since the publication of the report in December 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25971/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. In 2015, funding of €49.93m has been provided to my Department for these schemes.
Three of the targeted funding schemes, the Special Projects for Youth scheme, the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund, and Local Drug Task Force projects scheme, were the subject of a recently completed Value for Money and Policy Review. The schemes support the provision of youth services for young people who are at risk of drugs, alcohol misuse, early school leaving, homelessness or who are living in disadvantaged communities. In 2015, expenditure on the schemes will amount to €34m. The review involved an in-depth scrutiny of a complex area to do with the impact youth service provision has in young people’s lives. Overall, the review found that the youth programmes can provide a significant contribution to improving outcomes for young people, and should be considered for on-going public funding.
The review makes a number of recommendations for the future operation of the youth schemes and their development in the years ahead. It recommends that the three schemes be replaced with a single, targeted, evidence-based and outcomes focussed scheme designed to secure the optimal outcomes for young people and their communities. It sets out guidance as to how services may be developed to better meet the needs of young people in the target cohort and how demographic information and CSO data about local areas should be part of the programme design.
My Department has initiated a detailed consultation process with the youth sector and providers of youth services about the review's findings and recommendations. To date, consultations have taken place at regional meetings for youth services in Cork, Sligo and Dublin City and County. Further consultations will take place over the summer months. My Department is committed to working collaboratively with the youth sector interests in the development and implementation of the new programme over the next two years.
The Department is developing an implementation plan to progress the reforms over the period 2015 – 2016. A project team has been set up in my Department to oversee this work. I intend that the reforms will be progressed in the context of the new National Youth Strategy which is nearing completion.
