Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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177. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if additional funding will be provided to youth work services in 2021 in order to provide more supports and activities for young persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28989/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The allocations under Budget 2021 are being considered by Government in the context of the annual Estimates process for 2021. As this process is ongoing, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this stage.

While I recognise and acknowledge that youth sector funding saw deep cuts during the preceding decade, in recent years, funding for the provision of youth services has increased on an annual basis. Between 2016 and 2020 the annual current youth funding available to my Department has increased from €51.9m to €61.79m.

It is now more critical than ever that our young people are supported as they experience the social, economic, physical and mental health impacts of the pandemic. In recognition of the vital role played by youth work in providing such support to young people, funding levels have been maintained throughout the current challenging period. This has enabled the youth sector to continue to provide supports to young people, particularly to marginalised, disadvantaged and vulnerable young people.

I am committed to supporting this important sector, which has enormous value both to the many young people involved and from a broader social and economic viewpoint.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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178. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to increase funding to the public bodies that distribute funds to youth services (details supplied). [29021/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The allocations under Budget 2021 are being considered by Government in the context of the annual Estimates process for 2021. As this process is ongoing, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this stage.

While I recognise and acknowledge that youth sector funding saw deep cuts during the preceding decade, in recent years, funding for the provision of youth services has increased on an annual basis. Between 2016 and 2020 the annual current youth funding available to my Department has increased from €51.9m to €61.79m. NYCI saw its Youth Service Grant Scheme allocation increase from €608,888 in 2019 to €633,244 in 2020.

It is now more critical than ever that our growing population of young people are supported as they experience the social, economic, physical and mental health impacts of the pandemic. In recognition of the vital role played by youth work in providing such support to young people, funding levels have been maintained throughout the current challenging period. This has enabled the youth sector to continue to provide supports to young people, particularly to marginalised, disadvantaged and vulnerable young people.

I am committed to supporting this important sector, which has enormous value both to the many young people involved and from a broader social and economic viewpoint.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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179. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to engage with the National Youth Council of Ireland and Tusla in advance of budget 2021 in order to address inadequate funding in the sector. [29020/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department maintains close contact with the 30 national youth organisations we fund, including NYCI, and I, and officials from my Department, meet formally with these organisations twice a year to share knowledge and information on developments in the youth sector.

Officials from my Department also meet with youth organisations on an individual basis when the need arises. In recent months, my Department has also worked in close partnership with representatives of the youth sector to develop bespoke guidance for youth organisations, in line with the central public health guidance.

While acknowledging the very deep funding cuts over 2008-2014, in more recent years funding for the provision of youth services has increased on an annual basis. Between 2016 and 2020 the annual current youth funding available to my Department has increased from €51.9m to €61.79.

It is now more critical than ever that our young people are supported as they experience the social, economic, physical and mental health impacts of the pandemic. In recognition of the vital role played by youth work in providing such support to young people, funding levels have been maintained throughout the current challenging period. This has enabled the youth sector to continue to provide supports to young people, particularly to marginalised, disadvantaged and vulnerable young people.

With the invaluable assistance of Education and Training Boards and national organisations, the funding from my Department supports national and local youth programmes involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff, 1,500 youth clubs and 40,000 adult volunteers who work with and for young people in communities across the country.

I am committed to supporting the youth sector, which has enormous value both to the many young people involved and from a broader social and economic viewpoint.

I can also assure the Deputy that my Department has engaged with Tusla with regard to its resource requirements in advance of Budget 2021 and has reflected these appropriately in my Department’s pre-budget submission and further engagements with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform throughout the Estimates process towards Budget 2021.