Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Section 8 of the programme for Government deals with youth and youth affairs and clearly states its intention to put in more resources to help young people. I acknowledge that that has happened to some degree. I wish to briefly outline a case in County Roscommon. Two years ago, Youth Work Ireland was awarded a tender to provide targeted youth services in County Roscommon. It did a very good job, setting up groups in Castlerea, Ballaghaderreen, Roscommon and other parts of the county, as well as in east Galway. Up to 800 people avail of these services. It was very inclusive, taking in refugees based in Ballaghaderreen, people who were attending CAMHS programmes and other children from various backgrounds. It really had a very positive effect. In March 2019 it was announced that the tender for County Roscommon was up for reapplication, with a deadline of 5 April. To cut a long story short, Youth Service Ireland did not get the project. We have now been told that the service is gone for the summer and will be back under a new provider in September. The young people are very disappointed that they will have no service for the summer. They will very much miss it. Yesterday, they protested at a meeting of the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board in Athenry. The service was of great benefit to them psychologically. I am a reasonable person. I ask that the Taoiseach and his officials speak to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, to see whether the service can be reinstated for the summer.

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