Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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626. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that despite clear local need, a recent application for a new UBU funded youth project was rejected for the CityWest/Saggart area; and if there will be new UBU funding going forward for this area giving its unique challenges. [60164/25]

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

In Budget 2025, €756,956 was allocated to Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) under the ETB Youth 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.

In 2025, €9,274,411 was allocated to DDLETB under the UBU Your Place Your Space (UBU) scheme. This represented an increase of 4.5% on funding levels from 2024, which supported 32 youth services. Additional funding of €84,420 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 2025, DDLETB received €65,000 under the Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative (TYESI). This funding supports projects that engage young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), helping them to build confidence, develop key skills, and progress toward further education or the workforce.

In addition to core youth service funding, €298,889 was allocated to DDLETB under the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme (LYCGS). This annual scheme is specifically designed to support volunteer-led youth work activities at a local level, helping to sustain and enhance the vital work carried out by youth clubs and groups in communities across the region.

In Budget 2025, €1.2 million was secured to provide for the establishment of ten new UBU services across the country which will provide targeted youth worker-led support for up to 1,000 young people.??

Each ETB was invited to make a?submission for a new UBU service in their functional area utilising available demographic data. As part of this process Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB submitted a proposal for a new service in the Citywest, Saggart and Rathcoole area.

Whilst the need for UBU youth services was demonstrated in all submissions, funding was allocated based on the results of the assessment process.

Following this process, the ten ETBs awarded funding for a new?UBU?service are as follows:

• Cavan and Monaghan ETB

• Donegal ETB

• Kerry ETB

• Kildare and Wicklow ETB

• Kilkenny and Carlow ETB

• Laois and Offaly ETB

• Longford and Westmeath ETB

• Louth and Meath ETB

• Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB

• Tipperary ETB

The ETBs awarded funding have issued calls for youth organisations to apply to establish and deliver these new?services?in the selected areas.

Budget 2026 has secured an additional €8 million in current and capital funding to support the sustainability and development of youth services. This investment strengthens the foundation for inclusive, high-quality provision — ensuring continuity, expanding reach, and enabling services to respond to the evolving needs of Ireland’s diverse youth population.?

The Budget documentation published sets out funding for key measures and actions agreed for the coming year. As the Deputy may be aware, in line with standard practice, the final allocation of funding for the department for 2026 will be set out in the 2026 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) which is due to be published later this year. Further details on the 2026 allocations for the department will be available after the 2026 REV process is complete.?

The department is currently engaging with DDLETB on how best to support the young people in the Citywest and Saggart area.