Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2016
671. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding provided to a service (details supplied); the amount of funding provided to this service in 2014, 2015, 2016 and expected funding for 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30866/16]
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. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country. In 2016, funding of €51m has been provided to my Department for these schemes. These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme under which funding is made available on an annual basis to 30 national and major regional youth organisations amounting to €10.15m.
BeLongTo receives funding from my Department under this particular scheme. In 2014, the organisation received an allocation of €144,375 while in 2015 it received an allocation of €144,375. My Department provided the organisation with additional, once-off funding of €27,000 in 2014 and €55,210 in 2015. In 2016 the organisation has received an allocation of €147,948.
Following the Budget 2017 announcement, my Department has commenced a process with national organisations and local services to identify service development needs for 2017 and to agree the 2017 allocations. Every effort will be made to complete this process as soon as possible.
