CHILDREN’S MINISTER TO BE LOBBIED OVER CUTS TO YOUTH WORK IRELAND GALWAY

Date Published: 24-Mar-2013

Galway’s Fine Gael Senators are to bring their concerns on the impact of cutbacks to Youth Work Ireland Galway to the office of Minister Frances Fitzgerald.

It follows a meeting between TDs, Senators and local Youth Work Ireland representatives on Friday, at the group’s base on Prospect Hill in the city.

The group is facing a ten percent cut to its funding, which, it says, will lead to a member of staff being laid off, and remove supports to 12 voluntary youth clubs.

Fine Gael Senators Fidelma Healy Eames and Michael Mullins are now to raise the issue with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and request a withdrawal or row-back on the feared cut.

Galway West Sinn Fein Senator Trevor O’Clochartaigh says changes to the administration of funding to a centralised model based in Dublin will also be challenged.

However, he says the central focus is on calling for a reduced cut as the group had anticipated a lesser cut in the region of 6.5%.