Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will prioritise Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board, ETB, for new UBU projects in 2025, given its status as the lowest-funded ETB under the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the urgent need for improved youth services in the region. [29525/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to supporting the delivery and development of youth work services and opportunities for young people across the 16 education and training boards (ETBs) including Laois Offaly ETB.

In 2025, €138,580 was allocated to Laois Offaly ETB under the ETB Youth Service Grant, to support the ETB in carrying out its functions relating to the administration of the Department’s funding, and its role in co-ordinating and supporting youth services. This represents an increase of 4% on 2024 funding levels.

Over €840,000 was allocated to Laois Offaly ETB in 2025 to support the provision of youth services in the area, with €460,334 being allocated under the UBU Your Place Your Space Scheme. Additional funding of €20,000 has been allocated to the ETB under the Resilience and Effectiveness Scheme in 2025 to further support UBU-funded organisations to develop capacity and respond to emerging needs.

Laois Offaly ETB has also been allocated €22,464 for the Summer 2025 Holiday Meals Pilot Programme, a pilot programme to address holiday hunger during the summer months among young people in selected UBU services.

Furthermore, Laois Offaly ETB received €60,000 for the Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative in 2025. Laois Offaly ETB received €99,191 in Local Youth Club Grant Scheme funding in 2025, an increase of €16,647 from 2024. Additionally, in 2025 over €43,000 was allocated to support the integration of young Ukrainians under the Migrant Integration Fund.

Budget 2025 secured an allocation of €1.2 million for ten new UBU targeted youth services to be opened. The establishment of these new UBU services will provide targeted, youth worker-led youth services to up to 1,000 disadvantaged young people.

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