My 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 involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff working in youth services and communities throughout the country.
As the Deputy may be aware, in 2018, €58.9 million has been allocated in current funding to support the provision of youth services which is being used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people and to assist national youth organisations in their work to support local voluntary youth services.
In 2018, an amount of €539,425 was allocated by my Department for the projects and services under Kildare Youth Services, which operates under Youth Work Ireland.
My Department provides funding to Kildare Youth Services under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme in respect of six local youth projects in Athy, Naas, Leixlip, Newbridge, the Curragh and Kildare town and also provides funding for a Youth Information Centre in Naas.