David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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37. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has, or plans to introduce, a funding scheme to support youth clubs and organisations with the purchase of minibuses to facilitate youth activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28356/22]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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This has to do with youth services. I realise the great work going on in this regard and the funding the Minister has made available, but one of the issues youth services have raised with me is the need to have minibuses to bring young people from A to B. Is there any funding stream that could be used to assist with something like this?

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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We had a good discussion about the funding of youth services earlier. Unfortunately, there are no plans for a specific funding stream for transport right now. I realise it is an issue. It is raised with me by those in the sector. We have a capital budget for youth services, amounting to €2.7 million, but the vast majority of these funds are for small grants to help services to maintain their buildings and youth clubs. As the Deputy knows, over the past two years we have been able to grow the overall youth services budget. An additional €5 million was made available in each of 2021 and 2022. I hope to do that again in this year's budget. It is primarily focused on current expenditure but youth services are very mobile and flexible in repurposing funding.

A transport scheme has to have multiple benefits. There is no point in having a bus vacant all day and used only for a youth club between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. We see this in the disability sector and with school transport. Work has to be done, particularly in rural areas, on using existing transport mechanisms more thoroughly and efficiently and to ensure they are being used all day. I am aware that the National Transport Authority is considering a project in this regard. The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Rabbitte, is very committed to determining whether the transport vehicles of various State-funded NGOs and charitable organisations can be linked to Local Link to ensure they provide a benefit all day.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I support what the Minister is saying. Many school buses are used during the day by schools and in the evening by youth services. Maybe synergies could be considered in this regard. When I was a Minister of State, I was involved with the youth justice strategy, which referred to integrating services and maximising the benefits, as the Minister has said. I support him in the work he is doing in this area. Perhaps he could talk to other Ministers and service providers to see whether there can be collaboration to maximise the use of existing services, as he has mentioned. It would make a massive difference to some, especially in the youth justice area, if they could get out and about and engage in sailing and activities in the hills and elsewhere.

Much of the time, however, they are stuck in one spot. To get them out can make a massive difference and be of huge help.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I agree with the Deputy. I do not want to let this opportunity go by without referencing the young adult travel card that the Government has introduced, which will benefit young people between the ages of 19 and 23. This was an initiative brought forward by Comhairle na nÓg to me. I and Comhairle approached the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and got the funding for that, and it applies as of two weeks ago. All young people between the ages of 19 and 23, whether they are students or working, or whatever their position in life right now, will get 50% off public transport, not just for this year but going forward. It is a great initiative, one I am very proud of and one the Government should be proud of. Particularly at a time when, first, we want to get people back onto public transport post-Covid and, second, the cost of living is high for young people, this is a big help.