Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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225. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he continues to interact with youth organisations throughout the country with a view to identifying their priorities and providing assistance, if and when required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6361/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department provides funding to Education and Training Boards (ETB) to support youth services in their area. My officials hold quarterly meetings with the ETBs and these meetings assist my Department in identifying service needs and emerging issues, particularly for vulnerable young people.

Last Year the UBU programme manager within my Department visited all 16 ETBs and over 70 youth services/organisations nationwide, engaging with youth service managers, youth workers and young people.

My officials maintain regular contact with the 30 national youth organisations funded under the Youth Service Grant Scheme and with Gaisce. This includes the National Youth Organisation Meeting which I attend twice a year to hear directly from the sector.

Officials from my Department meet with various youth organisations on an individual basis when the need arises, in regular formal meetings with individual organisations or as a group, and by maintaining informal contacts.

My Department will continue to engage with all stakeholders in the sector to ensure that we are providing supports to youth organisations and to young people.