merrion street

Dr Katherine Zappone TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, has today announced a €2m capital grant scheme for targeted staff-led youth projects and services across the country to fund small capital projects.

The Scheme is to support purchase of equipment and to fund small scale projects including the upgrade of bathrooms and kitchens in youth services.

Minister Zappone stated:

I am delighted to be in a position to announce the launch of this Scheme. As in previous years, I am confident the grants will assist in improving the quality of the services to the benefit of young people involved. In particular, they will improve the physical facilities, many of which are in areas of disadvantage.

Eligible local services will be invited by their Education and Training Board (ETB) to apply for support.

The provision of €2m in grants underscores the Government’s continued commitment to enhance the quality of services which add such value to our communities. Investing in Young People is a key priority for Government. This latest announcement follows the €1.79m in current funding announced for volunteer led youth clubs earlier this month.

In 2018 we will invest a total of €61.5m in current and capital funding in clubs, services and supports for young people.

The Minister thanked Youth Officers in the sixteen ETBs for their work in supporting local youth projects and their assistance to her Department in the design and launch of this scheme. It is expected that the scheme will be open for applications by the end of April 2018. Details will be on the Department’s website.

Minister Zappone stated that

Youth Officers play an essential role in the co-ordination of youth service provision to my Department. They act as a contact point in their respective localities and play important support role to the providers of youth services.

The Capital funding scheme is open to applications from Department of Children and Youth Affairs funded projects under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, Youth Information Centres, Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund and Local Drugs Task Force.