Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for listening last week and taking that on board. My next question relates to youth funding. It is startling to see that 1% of the entire budget is for youth. The Minister referenced an increase of more than 9%, to €90 million. In 2023, The Wheel told us youth funding was down 16% compared with 2008, a shortfall of €15 million that has never been made back since the recession. There is an opportunity for youth infrastructure to combine what is being done with after-schools from a capital perspective that can also serve youth clubs. I may speak to the Minister about that again. The youth budget may be eclipsed by the education budget. We need to keep it on the agenda.