Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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94. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional programmes being supported by his Department to assist with mental health issues amongst young adults particularly in view of the mental health effects of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27607/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Young people and their mental health have been severely affected by the restrictions to protect public health during this pandemic. This has been borne out by multiple mental health research reports including, a recent national consultation commissioned by my Department, called How's Your Head.

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.

Early in my tenure, I was able to provide an additional small grant to support local funded organisations, Youth Information Centres and youth clubs to defray some Covid-19 costs.

Since then, I have also secured an additional €5 million investment in youth services for 2021. I see this funding as supporting the frontline services as they seek to innovate to continue to provide critical services to vulnerable young people.

My officials and I have a very good working relationship with the youth sector and I will be continuing this engagement as we seek to support young people through this very challenging period.

At a broader level, my Department is committed to leading a discussion with relevant Departments and agencies to ensure that mental health services, educational institutions, youth services and sports clubs work together, so that each is aware of the challenges young people have been facing and can help ease them back into everyday life and support their resilience.