Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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769. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of UBU Your Place Your Space services in the country; the number in each ETB; separately, the number on a county-by-county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44698/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My department is dedicated to enhancing the delivery and development of youth work services and opportunities for young people across the country.

The UBU Your Place Your Space (UBU) scheme is a youth funding scheme that targets disadvantaged young people aged between 10 to 24 years who are identified as marginalised, vulnerable and at risk of not flourishing. The UBU scheme currently provides funding to 249 targeted youth services across 16 education and training boards (ETBs) that coordinate delivery of funding to the services in their local ETB areas.

The number of UBU services in each ETB and on a county-by county basis are detailed in the tables below:

The ten ETBs that have been awarded funding for a new UBU service were announced on 27 August 2025 and are as follows:

• Cavan Monaghan ETB
• Donegal ETB
• Kerry ETB
• Kildare Wicklow ETB
• Kilkenny Carlow ETB
• Laois Offaly ETB
• Longford Westmeath ETB
• Louth Meath ETB
• Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB
• Tipperary ETB

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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770. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to consider the application for two new services in Laois (details supplied) in view of the exceptionally low funding provided to the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44699/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department is dedicated to enhancing the delivery and development of youth work services and opportunities for young people across the country, including County Laois.

In 2025, €138,580 was allocated to Laois Offaly Education and Training Board (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 (UBU) 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.

In Budget 2025, an additional €1.2 million was allocated for the establishment of ten new UBU Your Place Your Space (UBU) services which will provide targeted youth worker-led support for up to 1,000 disadvantaged young people where they are most needed.

Education and training boards (ETBs) were recently invited to make a submission for one new UBU service in their area, with all sixteen ETBs submitting a proposal.

Following an assessment process, Laois Offaly ETB's submission for a new UBU service in County Laois has been selected as one of the ten ETBs that have been awarded funding for a new UBU service.

The ETBs awarded funding will shortly issue calls for youth organisations to apply to establish and deliver these new services in the selected areas.