Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there will be further roll out of UBU services in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20802/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department supports the delivery of youth services nationwide. Youth services are a safe place where young people are able to reach their full potential and positively shape their own future. Young people with the support of youth workers, take part in engaging, creative, educational and challenging activities driven by the input of the young people.

Arising from Budget 2025, approximately €85 million has been allocated for current and capital expenditure for the benefit of young people, an increase of almost 9% on the 2024 Budget. The UBU Your Place Your Space scheme is my Department's largest youth funding scheme, targeting disadvantaged young people between the ages of 10 to 24. €50.7 million was allocated to the UBU scheme in 2025.

My Department allocates funding on an annual basis to the 16 Education and Training Boards to support over 250 targeted youth services across the country. The Education and Training Boards have statutory responsibility for the administering of funding to youth work services in their functional area.

Whilst funding for youth work services is not allocated on a county-by-county basis, I can confirm that this year, UBU funding of over €940,000 was allocated to Louth Meath ETB to support existing youth work services.

Furthermore, in Budget 2025 my Department secured an allocation of €1.2 million for the establishment of 10 new UBU services this year. As a result, the total number of UBU services will increase from 250 to 260 services across the country. These new UBU services will provide targeted youth services for up to 1,000 disadvantaged young people.

Each Education and Training Board will be invited to make a submission for a new UBU service in their functional area utilising available demographic data. The 10 submissions that demonstrate the greatest need will be selected to establish a new UBU service.

As the Deputy is aware, following the formation of the new Government, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin appointed Minister Helen McEntee as Minister for Education and Youth, while I was appointed Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.

This requires a transfer of functions between our Departments, with the responsibility for Youth moving from my Department to the Department of Education. This transfer of functions is almost complete.

As a result of this change, the selection process for the new UBU services will be progressed by the Department of Education and Youth.