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

In respect of grants to youth services, I am not aware of any delays in funding managed by my Department. These grants are distributed in advance to funding intermediaries, in particular the education and training boards and Pobal. I understand that payments are currently on target for the year to date. If the Deputy has specific instances where that is not the case, I would appreciate it if he would draw them to my attention.

In budget 2023, I ensured that there was a 4% increase in funding provided to services on the ground.

This built on increases provided during the period of Covid-19 restrictions, which saw all grants continue without interruption. Furthermore, in 2021 and 2022 my Department increased grant supports to services experiencing particular challenges and to support smaller services to engage additional staff. In recent years, I have increased funding for youth services and clubs by some €12 million or 18%. The funding was at €61 million when I started and it is now at €73 million in terms of current spending and there is capital spending there as well.

Grants are provided on an organisational and a provision of service basis, in particular through the youth services grant scheme, youth information centres scheme and the targeted scheme, UBU. Youth workers and other staff involved in youth services are employed directly by the organisation in receipt of funding. My Department has no role in the setting of pay and conditions, which are matters for the employer.

My Department has heard from youth organisations about the challenges in the wider community and voluntary sector when it comes to the recruitment and retention of staff. My Department is currently developing a new action plan for youth services. The plan will outline key actions to enhance delivery of youth services in Ireland, including a consideration of the role of both paid staff and volunteers in the delivery of youth services across the sector.

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