Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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24. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she has regular contact with youth organisations with a view to ensuring a continuous dialogue with an emphasis on the challenges that modern society presents for young persons and the means of addressing these issues and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15194/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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This question relates to the extent to which the Minister continues to maintain dialogue with voluntary youth organisations throughout the country with a view to keeping in touch with the issues that challenge young people and the potential to address same.

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Meeting children, young people and those who campaign for their rights is the best part of my job. I engage with them every week. Last Saturday, I was delighted to join the FAI, the Shamrock Rovers Academy and their young players at the Roadstone Group Sports Club in Kingswood to open a world-class pitch. It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the result of a great partnership supported by the Government which will transform young lives. At the event, I was able to confirm funding of €380,000 for FAI community initiatives, which have cut anti-social behaviour in many communities. This will support street and night leagues and soccer leagues for young people who are homeless, as well as regional development officers. I give this simply as a recent example of my engagement with young people.

Over the past 12 months, I have visited every province to meet children and teenagers. The old excuse that young people are not interested in politics does not wash with me. My experience from Cork to Roscommon and from Dublin to Mayo is that not only are they interested, they have very strong views. I have engaged with Comhairle na nÓg, Youth Work Ireland and the National Youth Council of Ireland, to name just a few groups, and also with young members of the Traveller community, young prisoners and boys being schooled at the Oberstown campus.

As Minister, I have responded in a number of ways to the issues they have raised. Funding is being increased for youth services across the country to €57 million this year, which is a 10% rise. The first ever LGBTI+ national youth strategy is being delivered. Young people have been brought in to help form Ireland's response to Brexit and they were directly involved in deciding a future course for the north inner city. Engagement with young people is ongoing. Over the Easter break, members of Comhairle na nÓg will attend regional meetings and Brexit is on the agenda for every single one of them. They alway reports back to me.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Already we know from a national gathering I hosted at Croke Park that young people are worried Brexit could narrow college choices, jeopardise job prospects and lead to a hard Border on our island. This is a generation which has grown up in peace and with the freedom to move across our island. Croke Park told us above all that they do not want that to change. They do not want a border which would limit educational choice by limiting access to Northern Ireland and British colleges and hamper commercial activity but above all for those living in Border communities, they do not want it becoming a physical reality which interferes in their everyday social lives. I want to also acknowledge the attendance and participation of Deputies opposite on the day. These views have been shared with Government and are being acted upon. I assure the House that young people in all our communities have a voice and I am determined that it will be heard.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for her comprehensive reply. I am glad to note the initiatives she set out. Could she tell me the extent to which she can continue to engage with areas of social or economic deprivation in particular with a view to identifying the issues that affect the families of young people who may be affected by the pressures around them to a greater extent than would normally be the case? To what extent can she put in place interventions of a positive nature with which these young people can identify and from which they can benefit socially and economically along with the sporting activities that are there, which could also include their health and well-being in general?

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy for his additional question. I have met a number of national organisations, as the Deputy is aware, on my travels. When I meet the adults, I always ask if the young people can come to the meetings as well so that I am not just meeting the people who are advocating for them, particularly in the context of Foróige, the National Youth Council of Ireland, Young Voices and Scouting Ireland. Many national organisations delivering services for young people are very keen, as am I, not only for us to continue the provision of services and to increase the funding, as I have identified, but to put in place systems and processes to hear what they think we should be doing to support their development and well-being. My Department has developed a children and young people's participation hub that is one of the best examples throughout Europe in helping us develop these processes to ensure that their voices are not only heard but heard in a way that actually influences policy and legislative change.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister use existing youth organisations throughout the country with a view to ensuring that their views and perspectives are always kept to the fore in terms of the developmental needs of young people in their respective areas?

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Without a doubt, I do. A gathering a few months ago at which some Deputies were present involved young people in the context of youth organisations and Comhairle na nÓg and discussed what they want in respect of Brexit. As we know, this is Brexit week. What is the value of such a gathering? When they came together, we heard that they were worried about narrow college choices, jeopardising job prospects and putting a hard border on our island. Above all, those living in Border communities do not want it to become a physical reality that interferes with their everyday social lives and they do not want a border that would limit their educational choice by limiting access to Northern Ireland and British colleges or that would hamper commercial activities. I have shared these views with Government and we are bringing that into the dialogue on the Brexit process.