Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1034. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which the need has arisen to develop and expand youth services since the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48135/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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There is growing evidence to demonstrate that the pandemic had substantial consequences for young people. With that in mind, it is critical that our young people are supported as they experience the social, economic, physical and mental health impacts of the pandemic.

In recognition of the vital role played by youth services in providing support to young people, funding levels were maintained throughout the period of restrictions. This enabled the youth sector to continue to provide services to young people, particularly to marginalised, disadvantaged and vulnerable young people.

In relation to the further development of youth services, from 2020 to Budget 2024, current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes increased from €61.789 million to €77.95 million, a 26% increase overall. The focus of this increase has been on further investment in local and national youth organisations.

I remain committed to supporting this important sector, following the pandemic and beyond, which has enormous value to the many young people involved and from a broader social and economic viewpoint.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1035. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department continues to liaise with youth representatives with a view to establishing the highest possible contact and dialogue in order to meet their requirements to an even greater extent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48136/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department and I maintain substantial engagement with organisations representing youth services and my Department funds and supports the participation of children and young people in decision-making across local and national government.

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 and major regional 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.

In relation to hearing directly from young people, Comhairle na nÓg (local youth councils) are child and youth councils (12 – 17 years) that operate in each of the 31 Local Authority areas across Ireland. Dáil na nÓg (youth parliament) is a biennial national youth parliament for young people (12 – 17 years), with 200 delegates elected through local Comhairlí. Each Comhairle na nÓg (youth council) elects representatives to the Comhairle na nÓg National Executive to take action at a national level on young people’s vote at Dáil na nÓg.

The National Youth Assembly of Ireland, established 2022, is an overarching structure to allow young people (12 – 24 years) consider issues of national importance and to feed their views into Government policy. DCEDIY established Hub na nÓg as a centre of excellence and best practice in child and youth participation. Hub na nÓg has a particular focus on including the voice of seldom heard children and young people on matters that affect them.

The National Participation Office (NPO) was established within DCEDIY to support the safe participation of children and young people in decision-making at local and national level. The NPO provides child safeguarding and measures to include seldom-heard children and young people.

In 2023 there have been two Youth Assemblies, the National Youth Assembly on Climate which took place in March and the Rural Youth Assembly which took place in October with a number of recommendations made by children and young people.

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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1036. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the extent to which the integration programmes available through his Department continue to be of direct assistance to the relevant cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48137/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Dear Deputy,My Department in collaboration with the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), the City and County Management Association (CCMA) and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) have developed a new local integration model. The Department is providing funding to each Local Authority to establish a Local Authority Integration Team (LAIT). The primary role of the LAITs is to provide ongoing integration supports to IP applicants, Programme Refugees and BOTP to enable them to live independently in the community. The LAITs are not intended to replace mainstream service provision but to support IP applicants, Programme Refugees and BOTP in accessing mainstream services.

In addition, my Department administers a number of funding streams addressing integration.

The National Integration Fund (NIF) has the goal of supporting communities across Ireland to play a greater role in promoting the integration of migrants is open to organisations operating at regional and national level.The NIF themes of enhancing employment opportunities for migrants, with a focus on language acquisition; promoting representation of migrants in politics; and encouraging migrant participation in sport, volunteering and cultural activities. Approximately €750,000 is committed per year, subject to the availability of funds. The minimum annual grant amount that can be applied for will be €25,000, and grants may range up to €200,000 over the lifetime of the project. Applications have just closed for the 2023 version of the fund.

The Communities Integration Fund (CIF) has been in place since 2017 and arises from Action 51 of the Migrant Integration Strategy which states: “A Communities Integration Fund will be developed to support actions by local communities throughout Ireland to promote the integration of migrants and refugees”. Grant funding of €1,000 to €5,000 is mad available for local integration initiatives. Since its inception, the CIF has supported over 820 projects, with grant funding totalling €3.82 million. CIF 2023 awarded 111 organisations once off grant payments, with a total value of €509,415.

My department launched the Ireland Against Racism Fund (IARF)in 2023. IARF in its first year, has made €1.3 million available to applicant groups operating at national, regional and local level. IARF has the overall objective of providing funding for national and regional projects, as well as local initiatives, that aim to combat racism and foster racial equality and community cohesion. There are two streams of funding;

-Scheme A provides grants, ranging from €50,000 to €100,000, to organisations for national and regional projects.

Scheme B provides grants, ranging from €5,000 to €10,000, to organisations for local projects.

The results of the 2023 funding call were issued in September. A combined total of 24 national & regional projects were successful.

The International Protection Integration Fund (IPIF)has a goal to support communities across Ireland so they can play a greater role in promoting the integration of International Protection applicants. Annually, a total starting at €500,000 is made available to community-based organisations to carry out integration projects at a national, provincial or local level. Grants ranging from €5,000 to €20,000 are made available to successful organisations. This year 70 projects have been awarded €1,200,776 in funding. Organisations eligible to apply include local community groups, charities, faith-based groups, schools and cultural organisations. Applicant organisations must operate on a not-for-profit basis.

The International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD) Funding Callwas a once off funding call held this year to provide funding to support community organisations hosting local, regional and national events to mark and celebrate the Decade. The IDPAD has been planned by the Department in celebration of the ‘International Decade for People of African Descent’, effective through 2015-2024 under resolution 68/237 of the UN General Assembly.

The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). Funds Administration Unit of DCEDIY is the Managing Authority of the AMIF Programme in Ireland, for the 2021-2027 Programme period, having fulfilled a similar role for the previous 2014-2020 AMIF Programme. Under Ireland’s national programme, it is intended to provide a range of supports for International Protection applicants, Programme Refugees, Beneficiaries Of Temporary Protection and other third country nationals arriving in Ireland, ranging from information and assistance with basic needs through to specialist supports in areas such as medical/psychosocial and legal assistance; to delegate and oversee activities via Direct Awards to specialised bodies; and to fund the management of returns of third country nationals to their country of origin, where appropriate.

Funds Administration Unit manages the Integration and Employment of Migrantsstream of the European Social Fund Plus 2021-2027 Programme (DFHERIS is that Programme’s Managing Authority). This Activity is aimed at legally resident migrants who are experiencing barriers to participation and employment because of language difficulties, lack of training or social exclusion. The Activity proposes to increase the levels of employability of the participants.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1037. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he has taken or continues to take to address social and or economic disadvantage amongst the youth cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48138/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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There are a number of steps that my Department is taking to address social and/or economic disadvantage amongst children and the youth cohort.

Ireland’s National Action Plan under the EU Child Guarantee details efforts to address child poverty and social exclusion in Ireland, and highlights actions, objectives, targets and timelines in Education, Early Years, Health, Nutrition and Housing. The Action Plan seeks to promote service integration and awareness of supports at local level, and commits to the development of local child poverty action plans. My Department has responsibility for the co-ordination of this Action Plan across Government.

It is important to identify appropriate and effective structures to pursue necessary reforms to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children and young people. The forthcoming new National Framework for Children and Young People, currently being finalised, will inform the implementation of Ireland’s Child Guarantee National Action Plan.

The Action Plan commits to establish four pilot Child Poverty Local Area Action Plans in Children and Young People’s Services Committees areas. This is in conjunction with Local Community Development Committees under the remit of the Department of Rural and Community Development. Four pilot sites will be identified to implement local plans, maximise learning, and assess the feasibility of actions in both rural and urban areas. Other factors considered are population density, deprivation levels, local service provision, and diversity of service users.

Both my Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development are working together in conjunction with Taoiseach’s Child Poverty and Well Being Office to develop an expressions of interest process for joint applications by Children and Young People’s Services Committees and Local Community Development Committees in 2024. The recently released 2022 Pobal HP Deprivation Index will inform the planning and application process.

The previously mentioned National Policy Framework for Children and Young People will introduce ‘Spotlight’ programmes to address areas of significant challenge which need focused, coordinated responses across Government. The first Spotlight on Child Poverty has begun with the establishment of the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach. From Poverty to Potential: A Programme Plan for Child Poverty and Well-being 2023-2025focuses on six areas for early action, and brings together policies and services to make a real impact on the lives of children living in poverty.

The initial focus is on making sure that every child and their family has access to: the income they need; early learning and care; reduced cost of education; prevention and mitigation of family homelessness; pathways to access the services they need; and arts culture and sports opportunities.

The Framework will also incorporate the implementation of the European Child Guarantee, and ensure that it is collaborative, integrated and impactful. The implementation and monitoring of the National Action Plan will be incorporated into the Framework’s governance and monitoring structures. It is expected that Ireland will report on its progress in the implementation of its National Action Plan to the EU Commission every two years, with the first of these reports due in 2024. This report will primarily cover activities carried out and measures implemented since the adoption of the EU Child Guarantee Recommendation.

The Framework’s governance structures, which are planned to include representation from young people and civil society, as well as representation at senior level from across Government Departments and relevant agencies, will monitor progress on identified priorities to improve the lives of children and young people in Ireland.

My Department also supports measures to ensure that the child and youth participation structures under its remit are inclusive of all children and young people. Children and young people are supported where required to attend Comhairle na nÓg (local youth councils); Dáil na nÓg (biennial youth parliament), the National Youth Assembly of Ireland, national consultations on public policy and related meetings or events. DCEDIY also supports measures to ensure that communications and youth participation meetings or events are accessible for children and young people with additional needs or who require additional supports. The Comhairle na nÓg Five Year Development Plan, currently being implemented, has a number of specific actions to ensure the accessibility and inclusivity of Comhairle na nÓg and related structures for all children and young people. Hub na nÓg, the centre for excellence and best practice in child and youth participation, has a particular focus on including the voice of seldom heard children and young people in decision-making on matters that affect them, this includes children and young people affected by social or economic disadvantage.

I remain committed to building a robust evidence base to inform policy decisions into the future, having commissioned published research from the ESRI and Maynooth University on the topic of child poverty in recent years. In addition, as part of the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme, a Cross Government Network on Child Poverty and Child Well-beinghas been launched. This network will provide a forum for the sharing of research and policy thinking, as well as generate greater visibility and collaboration in the work being done across the whole government to tackle Child Poverty in Ireland.

I am also committed to continued support of Growing Up in Ireland– the longitudinal study of children in Ireland. Growing Up in Ireland provides a unique depth of data to inform policy making in multiple domains, including child poverty.

My Department will provide funding of almost €73m for the youth sector in 2023. The level of funding supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth work sector. Youth work programmes and services are delivered by volunteers in communities throughout the country.

The largest youth funding scheme provided by my Department is UBU Your Place Your Space. In 2023, over €46m was allocated to UBU funded organisations. UBU serves to improve the seven personal and social developmental outcomes of young people aged 10-24 years who are experiencing marginalisation, disadvantage or are vulnerable. These outcomes are:

1. Emotional Intelligence

2. Communication Skills

3. Confidence

4. Planning and Problem Solving

5. Creativity and Imagination

6. Relationships and

7. Resilience and Determination

There is strong evidence showing that approaches that focus on building social and emotional capabilities such as these can have good long-term impact for disadvantaged young people. When applying for funding under UBU, youth services must detail which outcome their proposed activities is seeking to develop.

Lastly, Budget 2024 provides investment for the initial roll out of the Equal Participation Model (EPM), which will support services to enhance supports to all children in early learning and childcare who may be vulnerable or disadvantaged. The supports are both universal and targeted, meaning some are for all early learning and childcare services and the children they serve, while some are for services who provide early learning and childcare in a context of high levels of concentrated disadvantage.

The response will be multifaceted reflecting the complexity of need and will be rolled out in stages as funding becomes available and as design of certain elements is progressed. EPM will start from September 2024 with phase one, with phases two and three following in subsequent years.

The final design of initial supports is being worked on but will focus in particular on enhanced supports to services with higher numbers of children from areas experiencing disadvantage.

Budget 2024 also provides for an increase in the sponsor rate, under the National Childcare Scheme for children aged one and over, to €5.30 from a minimum of €4.31 - €5.00 depending on the age of the child. Sponsored awards are specifically targeted at more vulnerable families based on family need, homelessness, or refugee status. It gives the highest subsidy without the need for an income assessment.