Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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120. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on young people and youth services; the supports his Department has put in place to help assist youth services and youth organisations with resilience; the capital supports are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48699/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Young people have been severely affected by the restrictions to protect public health during this pandemic. This has been borne out by multiple research reports including “How's Your Head?”, a national consultation commissioned by my Department. This research has informed the Government response across the pandemic.

In recognition of the vital role played by youth work in providing support to young people, funding levels were maintained throughout the COVID period. My Department has also engaged with the sector to develop sector specific guidance which was updated at each point there was a change to the Covid-19 measures at Government and NPHET level.

A total sum of €1,338,270 in funding was allocated to youth services to mitigate Covid-19 and its impact in 2020. An ICT investment grant of €1,000,000 was made available to support the improvement of ICT infrastructure within youth services and youth clubs to facilitate the remote provision of youth programmes and youth services. Early in my tenure, my Department made available a fund of €338,000 for a small capital grant scheme. The scheme allowed over 1,500 funded youth services and clubs to meet minor costs incurred as a result of Covid-19 response measures.

A further amount of €1.4m is currently being distributed through the ETBs nationally to mitigate Covid-19 cost pressures and to support the re-engagement of volunteers as we continue to move out of restrictions.

In relation to youth funding more broadly, I secured an increase of €5 million in funding for youth services in 2021. €66.8 million is being provided to youth services nationwide this year. The additional funding allocated to youth services in 2021 is supporting the delivery of universal and targeted youth services nationwide, with a particular view to the role played by youth services in fostering resilience and developing the social and personal competencies of young people.

Further capital funding will be available in 2022 and my officials will seek to make detailed information available on that scheme as early as possible in the new year.