Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

145. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18173/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Young Ireland: National Policy Framework for Children and Young People recognises the important role of youth work services in supporting young people to thrive and fully develop their potential. It acknowledges the important ongoing reform programme and further commits to the development of a new Youth Services Action Plan to provide a strategic direction for the delivery of youth services over the lifetime of the Framework.

In the process of developing this work, it was determined that there is a need for broader strategic policy vision to guide the identification of the most impactful actions. In view of this, it is intended that the final document will be a national strategy on youth work services and related non-formal developmental opportunities for young people.

Informed by extensive consultation, work is at an advanced stage in developing this document, which will focus on ensuring we have high-quality, inclusive and accessible youth work services and opportunities that support young people from all backgrounds to fully realise their potential and positively shape their own and our shared future. The measures to be included in the new strategy are still being identified. The focus will be on strategic actions that will be most impactful in maximising opportunities and outcomes for young people.

My Department has been leading a significant reform process in respect of the main funding schemes by which funding is allocated to the youth sector for their work with young people. The UBU Your Place Your Space scheme was launched in 2019 and provides a clear mechanism at local Education and Training Board level to ensure that resources are directed to where they are most needed, with a focus on young people who are disadvantaged, marginalised or otherwise vulnerable.

The Youth Services Grant Scheme, which provides funding to voluntary youth organisations that provide social and personal development opportunities to young people, is currently being reformed to ensure that we have a robust, modern and transparent funding infrastructure that meets the needs of young people.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

146. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding will be provided to ensure that youth workers are covered by the WRC recommendations to allow them to continue their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18174/24]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

159. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide increased funding to ensure youth workers are covered by the WRC recommendations on section 39, section 10 and section 56 workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18419/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 159 together.

My Department does not directly employ youth workers. Rather, funding is allocated on a 'provision of service' basis to meet the needs of the youth population in an area. The recruitment and employment of staff including youth workers is a matter for the youth organisations and services in receipt of funding.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

147. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18180/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department supports the provision of both volunteer-led and youth worker led youth clubs and services throughout the country. In respect of volunteer-led youth clubs specifically, €14.072 million is being provided through the Youth Service Grant Scheme, which includes provision for 30 national organisations to support their network of volunteer-led clubs at local level. Provision has also been made of a further €500,000 to allow new entrants to the Youth Service Grant Scheme in 2024. In addition, my Department this year has provided €2.5 million in funding to the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme to support volunteer-led groups and clubs throughout the country.

There is a need for improved data in respect of the distribution of youth work services across the State and this is an area of priority for my officials. A mapping process is currently underway which aims to capture all youth services, both youth worker led and volunteer led. The aim is to ensure that youth services are distributed across the country for young people who wish to access them.

In 2023 my Department initiated the first stage of the mapping project to map the 251 projects funded through the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme which provides targeted youth services to young people who are disadvantaged, marginalised or vulnerable. The mapping project has been expanded this year to include the mapping of youth work services funded through other schemes, including the Youth Services Grant Scheme and the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme.