Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

205. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he continues to liaise with youth groups and representatives in County Kildare and throughout the country, with a view to establishing supportive dialogue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39449/24]

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

My Department officials and I regularly meet with representatives of the youth sector, including young people, youth service providers and the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) who administer a number of the key funding schemes on behalf of my Department.

My officials are in regular contact with Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), the representative body for all of the ETBs. ETBI acts a conduit for information between the ETB youth divisions and my Department, providing advice and guidance to ETBs on my Department's funding schemes, and updating my officials with the issues of concern of the ETBs.

With regard to Kildare in particular, my officials met directly with the Director with responsibility for youth and youth officers of Kildare and Wicklow ETB in March this year, as part of a series of bilateral meetings with each ETB.

My officials also maintain regular contact with the 30 national youth organisations funded under the Youth Service Grant Scheme as well as with Gaisce, the President's Award. This includes the National Youth Organisations Meeting which I attend twice a year to hear directly from the sector. The most recent meeting was in June of this year. These organisations provide volunteer-led youth services on a regional and national basis, including to the young people of Kildare.

Officials from my Department also meet with various youth organisations on an individual basis when the need arises.