Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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367. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with his colleague in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in the context of seeking funding to directly fund or devolve to Tusla for use in youth-focused community and voluntary organisations. [20662/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am in regular contact with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform with regard to the funding for my Department and its aegis bodies. My Department funds over 600 organisations in the community and voluntary sector. The bulk of that funding is distributed through Tusla.

Officials from my Department are in regular contact with officials in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform regarding the funding streams to my Department.

As you are aware, in advance of the annual Budget announcement in October of each year, there is an Estimates process which commences in the summer (usually July). As budget holder for Tusla’s core annual funding budget, my Department co-ordinates and submits an Estimates bid to the Department of Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.

As part of this process, Tusla develops and submits a detailed Estimates bid, in which Tusla outlines budget requirements for the following year. In addition, both Tusla and my Department receive many prebudget submissions from the Community and Voluntary sector making observations and suggestions as regard the impending budget. In its bid Tusla includes any estimated requirements for funding to enhance existing services to meet current and expected demand, or for new developments in services, should funding be available.

There is a period of consultation within DCEDIY and between the Department and Tusla.

Following submission of the bid to the Department of Expenditure National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, further discussions and meetings between the Ministers of both departments occur, and in an area with many competing priorities and a hotly contested fiscal space Tusla’s budget for the following year is announced on Budget day.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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368. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will increase funding for youth services in view of new census data as it is published; if he will outline the rationale for the freezing of funding at 18% below 2009 levels; and his plans to increase funding to the sector in budget 2024. [20663/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department is making a significant investment in youth services in 2023, the full package of funding for youth services and programmes in my Department is €75 million. This includes €72.95 million for current funding and €2.7 million in capital funds for minor works, equipment, and contributions towards playgrounds with local authorities.

From 2020 to Budget 2023, current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes increased from €61.789 million to €72.95 million, an 18% increase overall.

With regard to future funding of youth work, the total amount allocated to this area will be determined in the annual budgetary process. I remain committed to supporting this important sector and will continue to champion the future of youth work in Budget 2024.