Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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208. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of progress towards meeting the commitment in the Programme for Government to expand access to social innovation programmes to all post-primary schools; the progress to date in terms of the uptake of post primary schools and students of social innovation programmes and the new funding provided and future commitments to achieve this goal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51735/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's commitment in the Programme for Government to expand access to social innovation programmes to all post-primary schools is ongoing.. 

In recent years, for example, my Department has provided a grant in aid and  also disimbursed Dormant Accounts Funding to 'The Young Social Innovators’ (YSI). 

The YSI, pay particular attention to empowering young people who are disadvantaged socially, educationally, economically or with special needs by promoting civic, social and political learning and engagement in their communities and society so countering disadvantage and building essential learning and skills.

Below is a table showing funding allocated to YSI and participation rates in the programmes over the last three years. 

The Department of Education funding and the Dormant Account Funding for YSI in 2022 is currently under consideration.