Ms Lorraine Gilligan:

Ms Grainger has covered our plans for reach and trying to make the tentacles of the European Year of Youth get out into areas that are not always obvious for us in our work, as well as general engagement.

Deputy Calleary asked whether there is a ring-fenced fund under the European Year of Youth, or other EU programmes like Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps, ESC, for climate issues. While there is no particular ring-fencing, sustainability and the fight against climate change is one of a number of priorities specifically set out in both of those EU programmes. That cascades through policies like the European youth strategy that was mentioned earlier. It is a topic that has been of huge concern to young people and they are very engaged and active on it. Many of the projects that apply to Léargas for funding under Erasmus+ or the ESC find that young people are very activated and engaged by issues like climate change.

The other issues that are of priority for us for this year and in the programmes we are delivering relate to delivering a more inclusive and diverse programme. We want to reach newcomers and get young people who do not see this project or Erasmus as an opportunity for them engaged and help them identify the different opportunities they have.

There is a great grassroots youth work network supported by the National Youth Council of Ireland, NYCI, which is active and engaged in that area.

The other priorities are around digital, as was referenced by our colleagues in Eurofound. Young people have experienced challenges around remote working over the past couple of years. There are assumptions that young people are digitally ready but there are some means of engagement that cannot be delivered through that kind of a format. One does not necessarily feel the connection or belonging that is intended as part of these kinds of engagements. The legacy part of the European Year of Youth will be developed through activities and engagement, bringing people together and helping them to find connection and feel empowered.

It is a fantastic note that we have these bubbles of decision-making in the Dáil or in Brussels. It is wonderful to be invited to talk about it today and I hope we can maintain this connection and interest throughout this year and beyond. We already know young people are asking for things through the 25 Percent project and asking for a youth check. Perhaps next year we could have a more organised approach at European level and call for a European year of mental health or a European year for climate change. Legacy elements can be communicated and developed through this year and we might need to come back to the committee for support in order to bring them into action.

I am grateful for the time. I hope I have answered the Deputy's questions.