Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1842.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans in his Department, including Budget 2025 plans, for an assessment of the funding of youthwork services in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32356/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department has carried out a significant reform process in respect of youth funding schemes. in recent years.

In 2019, my Department launched the new UBU Your Place Your Place targeted youth funding scheme, which consolidates a number of legacy youth funding schemes.

UBU is now on its second cycle, and my officials are working on a review of the scheme. This review will inform the policy decisions on how best to distribute funding to support young people who are disadvantaged, marginalised or vulnerable.

My Department is also finalising a reform process in respect of the Youth Services Grant Scheme (YSGS), which provides funding to 30 national and major regional voluntary organisations. The reform process will ensure that YSGS funding is allocated in a manner which is compliant with current public sector funding allocation and oversight procedures.

In addition, a mapping process is currently underway which aims to capture all funded youth services, both youth worker led and volunteer led. The first stage of the mapping exercise is to map the 250 projects funded under the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme. The interactive map integrates Census data as well as the Pobal deprivation index to identify gaps in youth service provision and enable my Department and stakeholders to develop proposals to expand youth service provision where necessary.

The Deputy will appreciate that as the 2025 Budget process is ongoing, I cannot comment in respect of future funding.