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

My Department has strongly supported young people throughout the pandemic with a range of supports, in particular financially. We provided an additional €5 million in both budget 2021 and budget 2022. We have continued to provide those financial supports in order that we can have more services. I visited the Kilkenny and Ossory youth services, based in Kilkenny city. Under its UBU, it has a mandate to provide rural youth services in a range of towns and villages throughout rural County Kilkenny. There is a model there.

I fully agree on the point about the use of idle buildings. I am happy to engage with any local authorities or the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Deputy Stanton might revert to me on the transport issue and we can speak about it separately, if that is okay.

See this speech in context