Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

251. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the €2.5 million for universal youth work services; if that has been distributed or used; if so, what it has been allocated to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23437/24]

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

My Department supports the delivery of youth services nationwide, with €77.95 million funding for youth service provision this year, an increase of €5 million, or 6.8%, on the 2023 budget. 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 increases I secured this year include an additional €2.5 million for universal youth services. €2 million of this is being allocated via increases to youth organisations currently funded under the Youth Services Grant Scheme to allow expansion of services, while €0.5 million has been specifically earmarked to allow new entrants to this scheme this year. A process for enabling new entrants to enter the scheme will be launched over the next months.