Written answers

Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Youth Services

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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723. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the allocation of €1 million for six new projects under the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme in Budget 2021; if the location of the new projects has been decided; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22163/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As the Deputy points out, I secured an additional €1 million for the provision of new UBU services in 2021. Six Education and Training Boards (ETBs), who did not form part of the Sample Services process in 2016 and 2017, were pre-selected to establish new services. These ETBs are:

- City of Dublin ETB

- Donegal ETB

- Kerry ETB

- Laois Offaly ETB

- Louth Meath ETB

- Waterford Wexford ETB

My officials have met with the six ETBs to initiate the process. The mechanism by which selected ETBs undertake the establishment of new services is set out in the UBU Policy and Operating Rules. The six ETBs have commenced completing the Area Profile, Needs Assessment and Service Requirement (APNASR) which will identify the most pressing needs of young people to which the new services will respond. A provisional timeline of six months for the new services to become operational has been conveyed to these ETBs.  I look forward to working with the ETBs to get new services up and running as soon as possible.

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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724. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the commitment in the Programme for Government to develop a new youth strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22164/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government commitment referred to by the Deputy sets out that the Government will develop mechanisms, through a new youth strategy, for the voice and views of young people to be part of decision-making at community, county and national levels.

Promoting and ensuring the participation of young people at all levels of decision-making is a key priority for my Department, in line with the National Strategy on Children and Young People's Participation in Decision-Making. Earlier this month, I launched a new National Framework for Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making to support government departments, agencies and organisations to improve their participation practice with children and young people. I was delighted to see that the launch event was attended by representative of national, regional and local organisations including, for example, a number of government departments, Local Authorities, health services, and youth organisation.

I have also announced a Capacity Building Grant to support implementation of the Framework.

The production of a renewed youth strategy is a strategic action of my Department’s Statement of Strategy 2021 – 2023. Covid has resulted in our finite resources having to be prioritised for pressing needs and some previously planned pieces of work have had to be delayed. The current National Youth Strategy, which was due to be replaced in recent months, continues to provide an overarching framework for the development of cross-government and cross-sectoral policy and service provision relating to young people aged 10 to 24. Its aim is to enable all young people to realise their maximum potential, by respecting their rights and hearing their voices, while protecting and supporting them as they transition from childhood to adulthood.

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