Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department's Youth Affairs Unit provides funding to support youth groups and clubs around the country, the vast majority of which will continue to operate during the summer months to provide services to young people.In the present difficult circumstances, I have consistently made my position clear that this funding is both necessary and essential, and I am pleased that it has been maintained. I secured €61.79 million in current funding for my Department's youth funding, an increase of €1.4 million on 2019.

In addition, officials from my Department have been working with representatives from the youth sector to develop sector specific guidance consistent with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. This Youth Sector Guidance for Youth Organisations on Resuming Full Services after COVID-19was published on 2^ndJune 2020 and will support funded youth organisations to safely plan for the provision of youth services during the summer period and beyond.

My officials are in regular contact with national youth organisations and the Education and Training Boards in relation to impacts and responses to the current crisis.I applaud the many youth services that are delivering essential work in their communities and that have innovated and adapted to find new and different ways of engaging young persons.

Some organisations now find themselves in financial difficulty due to the ongoing crisis. My colleague the Minister for Rural and Community Development put in place a stability fund using Dormant Accounts funding. This comprises €35 million for a Covid-19 Stability Fund and €5 million as a commitment to a Philanthropy Fund, ‘Innovate Together’, to focus on projects that provide innovative and adaptive solutions to existing and emerging challenges. Applications to this scheme recently closed and are currently being assessed.