Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I entirely agree with the Deputy. The work being carried out by national youth organisations through volunteer-led clubs and groups is of major importance. It can be transformative for young people. That is why my Department has worked hard to continue to support these services through a range of funding and other measures. In 2021, we are providing €66.8 million, through a number of schemes, to support the work of youth services and national youth organisations. That includes an additional €5 million in extra spending I got in budget 2021 in particular recognition of the work being done by these services, how they struggled during Covid and how they stepped up to support young people during the pandemic.

Many of the schemes funded by my Department are delivered through the education and training boards, ETBs, throughout the country and with funding from my Department, the ETBs employ dedicated youth staff and conduct needs assessments of their areas to determine their subsequent funding schemes. The needs assessments must have regard to a number of factors, including population growth, which the Deputy highlighted as a key issue. In my Estimates discussion for 2022, my Department is again referencing the data on demographics that affect young people. My officials hold quarterly meetings with senior management in the ETBs throughout the country. These meetings help my officials to identify service needs and emerging issues and, in particular for vulnerable young people, to plan how we address them.

In 2021, the additional €5 million provided is assisting existing youth services to deliver services and to expand their reach to additional young people. We also used that money to set up six brand new services throughout the country. These services will respond to the increased needs of young people in these areas and the very specific needs of certain groups.

This is a sector I value and of which I am highly supportive. Again, in my engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, I will seek to continue to increase support for the sector in this budget.

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