Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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438. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the situation regarding the process by which funding can be applied for and be made available (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7030/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I understand that the Question relates to potential funding towards youth related services to the Traveller community in a rural county.

My Department manages the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme, which provides funding to a range of targeted youth services that address the specific needs of marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable young people aged between 10 and 24 years to enable them to overcome adverse circumstances and achieve their full potential in their communities. Young people experiencing marginalisation or who are disadvantaged or vulnerable are the primary target group for youth services funded by UBU Your Place Your Space. This includes Traveller and Roma young people.

Funding is provided under the scheme to youth service organisations through the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETB) around the country to support the provision of targeted youth services in their area. Each ETB provides an important role in the co-ordination, oversight and administration of youth services within their functional area. Further information is available on www.ubu.gov.ie.

I would suggest that the local body in question could make contact with the ETB that has responsibility for their county for further information on UBU Your Place Your Space.

Depending on the nature of the youth service that is being considered, support may also potentially be available from a number of other sources, such as the Garda Youth Diversion Programme of the Irish Youth Justice Service; programmes offered by Foróige, the voluntary national youth organisation; Involve (the National Association of Travellers’ Centres), which works from a community development perspective to provide youth services to young Travellers in Ireland; and the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) of the Department of Rural and Community Development, which includes as a target group disadvantaged young people aged 15 – 24. Regarding the latter programme, the body in question should make contact with the Local Development Company which delivers SICAP in their area.

My Department also provides core and limited project funding to a number of national and local Traveller and Roma representative organisations, including a Dormant Accounts Fund project to support the employment of dedicated Education Community Development Workers to address the challenges surrounding the participation, retention and progression of Traveller and Roma children through the education system.