Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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45. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she and her Department have mapped the existence of youth-focused community projects and staff across the State; if they are aware of gaps in coverage, or of large and populous areas without or with inadequately resourced projects; and how do they intend to resolve this. [40663/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I recognise the need for improved data on the distribution of youth work services across the State, and this is a priority for my Department. I recently published a new Government strategy to guide the development of youth work services between now and 2028, entitled Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services 2024 - 2028. Opportunities for Youth describes the measures we will take during this period to move us closer to an Ireland where all young people who wish to are able to participate in enriching and developmental out-of-school opportunities that support them to reach their full potential. The Strategy notes that investment should be transparent, data-driven and evidence-based and should deliver impact for young people while addressing known gaps in service-delivery and avoiding duplication. To this end, the first delivery phase of Opportunities for Youth includes an action to map the availability and distribution of youth work and wider youth services and facilities throughout Ireland, charted against key demographic data.

Work is underway in respect of this action. My Department is leading on a comprehensive mapping exercise of the youth services sector, aiming to capture all youth services, both youth worker-led and volunteer-led. The first stage involves mapping the 250 projects funded through the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme and is currently being finalised. This scheme provides targeted youth services to disadvantaged, marginalised, or vulnerable young people. The mapping project will also incorporate the mapping of youth work services funded through other schemes, including the Youth Services Grant Scheme, Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative, PEACEPLUS, and the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme. A detailed questionnaire was recently sent to all youth services and clubs, and the collected data is currently being processed to further inform and enhance the mapping exercise.

This mapping exercise will leverage CSO population data and the Pobal deprivation index to help identify gaps in youth service provision and enable my Department and stakeholders to develop proposals to expand youth service provision where necessary. The mapping exercise will also provide information to young people, their guardians, and teachers on youth services which are available in their communities.