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

Absolutely. I hope to continue to grow the overall funding envelope. We have grown it by €5 million cumulatively each year and hope to continue to do that. The key scheme we are looking at is UBU Your Place Your Space, which is a targeted funding scheme. We have announced eight new schemes this year and announced six new schemes last year. We will look to continue to grow that. We had a useful discussion with youth groups from the Deputy's own area about providing additional support. We conversed about how that could be progressed at education and training board level and we are seeking to provide the funding. We are also looking at a major reform of the youth services grant scheme, which is the funding scheme for the more general, universal youth funding. Many groups rely on that. When something like that is changed, it has to be done slowly and in consultation so no one feels left out or that their funding is at risk. We are looking to reform that and make it fit for purpose in order that we can continue to expand that scheme as well.

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