Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

35. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the work that his Department has done in relation to using existing community facilities including schools as youth facilities on evenings, weekends and during school holidays such as the upcoming summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28404/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Youth organisations use a wide range of facilities to provide the services which my Department is funding. The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department has no role in selecting facilities where youth clubs or services operate.

The main funding provided by my Department under UBU Your Place Your Space is for year round services.  These services are expected, under the policy and operating rules for the scheme, to prioritise their operating hours to cover when young people are available.  This includes evenings, weekends, and during school holidays. Access to existing community facilities is subject to local needs and negotiation.

Youth clubs and services are largely operating from shared community facilities, their own premises or rented accommodation.  I have been advised that a recent survey has shown that UBU funded organisations have plans in place to provide activities over the summer months. This reflects, for many, the age profile of young people being served, and the requirement for accommodation to provide their service.