Deputy Robert Troy has says he secured a commitment from the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Francis Fitzgerald that €1.035m is being made available to provide support to local youth groups under the Local Voluntary Youth Club Grant Scheme.
The Minister was responding to a parliamentary question tabled by Deputy Troy.
Deputy Troy said: “The Minister has informed me that the Local Voluntary Youth Club Grant Scheme will be administered by the relevant youth officers in the VECs around the country. Letters will be issuing shortly to the youth officers notifying them of their particular allocation for 2011. This will be a welcome boost to many communities and I will be in contact with Westmeath and Longford VECs about this scheme.”
The scheme, which provides grant-in-aid towards the costs of running clubs, is part-funded by the proceeds of the National Lottery and priority is given to voluntary clubs catering for young people aged between 10 and 21.
Deputy Troy said: “After the relevant youth officers receive the notification they can then invite applications from local voluntary youth clubs for this funding. There will be a maximum grant of €3,000 available to each group.
“I know from my own constituency that youth groups are valued in the community and have an extremely important role to play. I look forward to seeing this funding rolled out in communities in Westmeath, Longford, and across the country,” concluded Deputy Troy.
