John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider an approach of multi-annual funding commitment for the youth work sector to allow for more sustainable planning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42183/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Exchequer funding for youth services is currently allocated on an annual basis following the annual budgetary process. My Department is obliged to adhere to the public sector spending code, and therefore it is not currently possible to enter into multi-annual funding agreements with youth organisations funded by my Department.

However, to support funded organisations to have greater certainty of funding on a multi-annual basis, the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme, which is the largest youth funding scheme funded by my Department with €50 million in funding for 2025, approval in principle is provided for funding for each three-year cycle of the scheme. A renewal of funding application is required on an annual basis to comply with the Governmental budgetary process to affirm the annual allocation provided to each funded organisation.

The Targeted Youth Employment Support Initiative operates on a similar basis with three-year funding provided in principle for services, with an annual renewal of funding within that period.