Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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437. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 626 of 14 November 2025, the correspondence her Department has had with DDLETB on the best way to support the young people in the Citywest and Saggart area; if the youth affairs unit has met with DDLETB on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62954/25]

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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438. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 626 of 14 November 2025, if she will reconsider the UBU application that has been resubmitted to her officials in respect of the proposal for a new service in the Citywest, Saggart and Rathcoole area in light of the recent events; if Budget 2026 will ensure this service is delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62955/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 438 together.

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, Saggart and Rathcoole area.

As the Deputy is aware, €1.2 million was provided to establish ten new UBU youth services in Budget 2025, which will deliver targeted youth worker-led support to up to an additional 1,000 young people in the selected areas.

The ten new UBU services were selected based on a competitive assessment process. The successful education and training boards (ETBs) have now completed their call for service and have provided the department with confirmation of the youth organisations selected to establish and deliver these new?services?in the selected areas. 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 Department met with Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB on 12 November 2025 to discuss the current youth work provision in the Citywest, Saggart and Rathcoole area and are continuing discussions on how best to support the young people in this area.