Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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329. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the work underway, and that has taken place to date, on implementing the actions for which Youth Affairs is the lead on Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services 2024-2028; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27564/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that at present my officials are developing an implementation approach to Opportunities for Youth that takes into account the transfer of youth functions to the Department of Education.

Work is already underway in relation to several actions in the strategy for which the Department is the lead.

In relation to Action 8, my officials have begun work on a review of the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme which is due to take place this year. The review will assess how the scheme operates, the extent to which the scheme is meeting its objectives, and whether the processes and procedures are fit for purpose.

In line with the commitment under Action 9 of Opportunities for Youth to 'map the availability and distribution of youth work and wider youth services and facilities throughout Ireland, charted against key demographic data', the first phase of developing a comprehensive mapping tool has been completed. The next phase, focusing on the external website, is set to begin shortly. The website will feature an interactive map designed to serve as a central resource for young people, their guardians, and educators, facilitating access to essential youth services within their communities.

The internal dashboard integrates key data sources, including the Pobal Deprivation Index, CSO population statistics, current funding allocations, and travel time metrics for funded organisations, to inform future resource distribution. Following the recent transfer of function to the Department of Education and Youth, a review is underway to explore additional functionalities that may further improve the effectiveness of the mapping tool.

Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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330. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills while recognising the transfer of functions to her Department only recently, if she will provide an update on the work underway to develop the implementation approach to support the delivery of agreed actions and ensure effective mainstreaming of strategic objectives of Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services 2024-2028; if there is a timeline for the development of the implementation plan; if and when other stakeholders are being brought into this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27565/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In light of the transfer of functions to the Department of Education and Youth, my officials are currently drafting the implementation approach to support the delivery of agreed actions and ensure effective mainstreaming of strategic objectives of Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services 2024-2028.

Given the recent transfer, a precise timeline for the development of the implementation plan has not yet been developed. However this work is being progressed and an update will be provided to stakeholders as soon as possible.