Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 February 2017
70. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason funding has been withdrawn from an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6713/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is important to say at the outset that there is no reduction in funding for youth services in Roscommon North East Galway. The decision to withdraw funding from the Special Projects for Youth projects in Ballaghaderreen and the Youth Information Centre in Roscommon town, both of which were operated by Youth Work Ireland Roscommon North East Galway, was arrived at based on a Finance and Governance Review and a Service Review of the organisation that were carried out on behalf of my Department by its funding intermediary, the City of Dublin Youth Service Board. My Department withdrew funding from the Special Projects for Youth projects in Ballygar, County Galway earlier in 2016.
Following engagement with Youth Work Ireland Roscommon North East Galway, my Department received no assurances that the youth services being provided by them were to a level that met the needs of young people in the region. Nor was my Department provided with any assurances as to the organisation's capacity to support, operate and manage the provision of quality youth services and to make good use of Government funding for these purposes.
It is important to note that the Department's decision to cease funding to Youth Work Ireland Roscommon North East Galway was supported by Youth Work Ireland's National Office and by the Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board, which has a statutory role in the provision of youth services.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board is putting in place replacement quality youth services in all three locations from this month onwards, on a transitional basis, with more permanent targeted services to be in place from later this year.
