Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department published a report Spotlight report on Yong People's Participation in Youth Organisations on 28 February 2023. The report sets out key data on young people’s participation in youth organisations based on factors such as financial situation, housing tenure and disability, which will inform the ongoing implementation of youth-related policies and strategies. I am happy to note that young people’s participation in youth organisations in Ireland over the last decade has remained higher than the European average.

The data is sourced from European surveys and from Growing Up in Ireland, the national longitudinal study on children and young people.

Some of the key findings from the report are:

- In 2021, 23% of 16-30-year-olds in Ireland reported having ever joined a youth organisation, compared to 14% in the EU27 as a whole.

- In both Ireland and the EU27, young people who were still studying had higher percentages of participation in youth organisations than those whose education had ceased.

- The percentage of 15-30-year-olds in Ireland who participated in a youth organisation was highest for respondents living in small/mid-size towns when compared to those living in rural villages or large towns.

- In Ireland, where the household financial situation was categorised as “not enough money for basic bills”, a higher percentage of respondents reported that they had ever joined a youth organisation compared to those in other household financial situations.

- Young people’s participation in youth clubs was greater for those living in rented housing than those living in owned housing.

The data from this report will assist my Department in increasing young peoples engagement in youth services, particularly those who are marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable.

Link to the full press release and report: Minister O’Gorman publishes Spotlight report on Young People’s Participation in Youth Organisations

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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From 2020 to Budget 2023, current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes increased from €61.789 million to €72.948 million, an 18% increase overall.

The funding provided by my Department has enabled the youth sector to continue to provide supports to young people, particularly to marginalised, disadvantaged and vulnerable young people. The increased funding since 2020 has enabled DCEDIY to offer more supports to existing services, to help them reach more young people, and has enabled the introduction of brand new services across the country.

My Department supports youth service providers though a number of key funding streams:

- the Youth Services Grant Scheme supports universal service providers, to give all young people access to out of school youth activities;

- the UBU scheme, which is delivered in co-operation with the Education and Training Boards, supports targeted interventions for disadvantaged and marginalised young people; and

- Youth Information Centres provides targeted information for young people on a range of issues, such as mental health, education and access to local youth services and other supports.

I am committed to supporting this important sector, which has enormous value to the many young people involved and to society as a whole.