Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

There is a disparity between the €160 for every young person in Dublin city and then €15.50 in Louth and Meath. The average works out at approximately €51.60 per young person, but I do not think putting a price on every young person is the issue. It is being able to provide as wide a range of services. Deprivation is deprivation be it in inner-city Dublin or in rural parts of the country in Laois and Offaly. The issues might be different, but many are the same in terms of child poverty and access to services and education for Travellers and migrants in particular. During his tenure, the Minister has consistently worked hard to try to ensure the trajectory has been an upward one over four budgets. I have no doubt that he will argue his corner for budget 2025 as well. I am more than happy to take back the specific request about Laois and Offaly ETB. There are other areas of funding around LECPs, the local development companies that do work with migrants, Travellers and local authorities. There is a broad coalition of organisations that work with and for young people and their families. This in particular is a specific issue the Deputy has raised about the ETBs and the Minister will not be found wanting in trying to maximise the funding for youth work across the country.

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