Youth groups should apply for grants — TD

Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon is urging youth projects in Kildare to apply for capital grant funding which has been announced this week. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly TD, has announced the availability of €500,000 in capital funding for small to medium youth projects in disadvantaged communities in 2014.

“The funding announced by Minister Reilly will be extremely useful in allowing youth projects in disadvantaged communities in Kildare to upgrade or replace equipment," Deputy Heydon says. "Youth projects will be able to buy new computers, sports equipment, multi-media equipment or furniture."

The capital funding scheme for small to medium grants is open to applications from Department of Children and Youth Affairs funded projects under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme (SPY), Youth Information Centres (YICs), Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) and Local Drugs Task Force (LDTF). As a once-off, exceptional measure the scheme is also open to a number of national youth organisations.

The grant scheme also calls for applications in early 2015 for capital projects related to health and safety improvements to premises such as improved access for young people with disabilities and upgrade or refurbishment of premises. Details of the scheme and how to apply are on the Department of Children and Youth Affairs website at www.dcya.gov.ie.