Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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1745.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the UBU Your Place Your Space panel, which has not been opened for submissions since 2021, will be opened for new submissions for youth services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31112/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In Cycle 1 of the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme, over 260 projects were funded by my Department on the recommendation of the ETBs. A reserve panel of 18 projects was established to be funded subject to additional resources being made available to my Department. 8 of these projects were funded in 2022. The panel was set to expire in 2023 but was extended to the end of 2024 in response to a request from the ETBs.

A new panel will be put in place in 2025 if additional funding becomes available. ETBs will be invited to submit applications for new UBU services if that becomes possible.

It is my Department’s intention to maintain ongoing engagement with ETBs on this matter.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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1746.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the shortfall of youth funding services in an area (details supplied); the measures he intends to take to bring the service in line with similar service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31113/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am committed to supporting the delivery and development of youth work services and opportunities for young people throughout the country. In 2024, the Government is investing €78 million in this sector, which represents a 26% increase in the current budget since 2020.

A total of over €800,000 is being allocated to Laois Offaly ETB this year to support the provision of youth services in the area with over €420,000 is being allocated under the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme. UBU funding is directed at young people who are marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable. It is allocated on the basis of an area needs analysis carried out by the ETB. This ensures that funding is directed to where it is most needed.

An additional €255,000 has been allocated to Laois Offaly ETB to support youth services in 2024 under a number of funding schemes, including:

• €12,000 under the Resilience and Effectiveness Scheme 2024. This enables youth organisations to build capacity and respond to emerging needs;
• €36,000 under the new Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative in 2024. This funding helps young people to engage in progression pathways leading to education, training and employment opportunities;
• €75,000 under the Migrant Integration Fund, to support the integration of young Ukrainians into youth services.
• €50,000 under the Minor Grant Scheme, for additional programme related costs associated with the provision of universal youth work supports for all young people, and
• €82,000 has been made available to support clubs in Laois and Offaly under the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme.

In addition to funding targeted youth services administered by the ETB network, my Department provides funding to national youth organisations who provide volunteer led youth services nationwide. Many of these organisations are active in Counties Laois and Offaly, including 23 Foróige youth clubs and 11 Scout troops.

My officials have begun work on a review of the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme which will consider, inter alia, how to address the situation of ETBs in receipt of lower annual funding allocations.