Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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613. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if additional funding will be allocated to support youth centres in Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42570/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am very pleased to have secured an increase in youth service funding by 9% for 2025, bringing my Department's investment under our main youth budget subhead to a total of €84.9 million.

This increased level of funding will enable the expansion of youth service capacity to engage more young people, across both universal and targeted youth services. This will include the establishment of 10 new targeted youth services under the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme. Additionally, a new pilot initiative will be implemented to support selected youth services in providing meals during school holiday periods, as part of the Government’s commitment to tackling Holiday Hunger. Furthermore, €1 million in capital funding is being allocated under the Youth Affairs subhead, with €500,000 specifically earmarked for upgrading play and recreation facilities.

Work is underway in developing the funding allocations across the Youth Services sector for 2025.