On 10 November last the people voted to enshrine the rights of the child in the Constitution. At the time the Tánaiste said the referendum was an opportunity "to state clearly and unequivocally that we, the Irish people, value children and childhood." That was the rhetoric and we know the reality has been very different. The reality is that the Government, through the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, is making cuts to youth services across the State and in Dublin city. These cuts will bite hard and target some of the most disadvantaged communities across the State. The City of Dublin Youth Services Board is proposing cuts, some of them of the magnitude of 14%, in projects across the city. For instance, the SWAN project in the North Wall will lose over €62,000 in funding. Cabra For Youth will have its funding cut, while Ballyfermot Youth Service will lose over €74,000. The Base Youth Service in Ballyfermot will take a significant hit, while the Bradóg Regional Youth Service based in the north-west inner city is facing a massive cut of €65,000. The Sphere 17 Regional Youth Service in Darndale will lose over €122,000.

That is outrageous.

BRYR in Ballymun will lose nearly €150,000, while the Finglas Youth Resource Centre will also be hard hit. There are many others that I could list for the Tánaiste. Each of these projects that deals with children on the front line, some of them in crisis, others in trouble, represents real value for money and the State gets bang for its buck. Every cent invested in our youth and these projects gives a direct return to society, the State and the Exchequer. The scale of the proposed cuts will be devastating for youth projects across the State and in Dublin.

What about the Tánaiste's much heralded commitment to valuing children, childhood and youth? What about the Government's commitment to disadvantaged communities and children? What will the Tánaiste do about these cuts? The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is set to sign off on them next week. Will the Tánaiste intervene to stop her?

The Government does value children and childhood. This is the first Government to have a dedicated Department of Children and Youth Affairs, headed by a Cabinet Minister. This is the Government that delivered on a commitment that had been spoken about for 20 years, namely, to enshrine the rights of children in the Constitution. The Government spends a considerable sum of money in the delivery of youth services which are delivered through the vocational education committees and the various youth bodies and services organised throughout the country. From time to time, the demand for services, the numbers using them and the numbers involved vary. Accordingly, the amount spent in an individual service may go up or down. I know the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has an ongoing dialogue with youth service providers. She consults them regularly about what is the best way to deploy and use the resources of the State to ensure these services are working in the interests of the young people for whom they are provided.

The establishment of Departments and changes to the Constitution are only of value if they are actioned, become a reality and inform public policy. For all of the Tánaiste's rhetoric, the truth is the youth affairs budget has been cut by 10%. This will directly translate into a 14% cut for the SWAN project in the North Wall. This project caters for 350 young people and does immensely valuable work. If its work is undermined or disrupted or services are lost, the Tánaiste must be very clear that we will lose on the double. Children and youth lose the opportunity attached to the service available to them, but the State loses too. The Government should not be penny-wise and pound-foolish in this matter. The sum of €62,000 which this project will lose might not be a big deal for the Tánaiste as it is a fraction of his own salary and of those disgraceful pensions that so many former politicians receive. Just as families on small incomes struggle with a small cut, so too do projects with lean budgets.

I put it to the Tánaiste again that these cuts are wrong and I do not believe he can stand over or defend them. Will he intervene with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, and insist on the cutbacks being stopped? Will he and the Government insist on the commitments they made to children and disadvantaged communities being honoured?

It is outrageous to cut services in Darndale.

When it comes to rhetoric, nothing can take second place to the rhetoric of Sinn Féin.

The Tánaiste would know all about it.

We have had another example this morning of the party's "Father Ted" economics-----

Answer the question.

-----whereby they take one percentage figure and add it to another and we end up with a calamity.

If Sinn Féin is Fr. Ted, the Tánaiste is Fr. Jack.

On provision of youth services, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has in place a process of discussions, dialogue and consultation with the providers of youth services.

What about youth services in Darndale?

Where there is a difficulty with an individual youth service and the resources available for it, there is a channel of communication between the service providers and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

There is a difficulty with all of them.

As I said, from time to time, because of changes in population, demand and the range of services provided, the allocations to individual services and projects may change.

It sounds like a change in promises.

If there is a difficulty with any service, there is a channel of communication between the providers of youth services and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Where service providers have difficulties, they can use that channel of communication to have the issues discussed.

Will the Tánaiste not intervene?

Yes, but there is already-----

There have been cuts.

Why intervene when there is already a direct channel of communication?

Perhaps because the Tánaiste is the leader of the Labour Party and supposed to defend these services.

The reason there is a direct channel of communication is we have a dedicated Department of Children and Youth Affairs which is dealing with this issue.

What about the children who will not have meals? Will the Government cut funding for their meals also? Is that what is next?