Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2019
574. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she and her Department continue to engage with local and voluntary youth services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43589/19]
View answerMy Department and I continue to engage with local and voluntary youth services in a range of ways which I happy to outline for the Deputy.
My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country, including those from disadvantaged communities. My Department also involves stakeholders from the sector on an ongoing basis, and also around specific developments and consultations.
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs administers the Youth Service Grant Scheme which provides funding for 30 nationwide voluntary Youth Organisations to provide and promote non-formal education and development opportunities for young people, and to help them develop social skills and competencies. My Department and I maintain close contact with the national youth organisations throughout the year and meet formally with them all twice a year to share knowledge and information on developments in the youth sector.
My Department also supports marginalised, vulnerable and disadvantaged young people through informal and non-formal educational opportunities via The Targeted Youth Funding Scheme. Working through local ETBs takes advantage of on-the-ground youth work expertise and allows for flexible youth services to be designed based on local analysis of need and existing provision, implemented using evidence-based approaches, and evaluated to ensure impact for service users and value for money for the taxpayer. We have worked extremely closely with the sector in the development of the new scheme, under the principle of 'co-design', and have had many consultation events around the country with stakeholders from local youth project, ETBs, national youth organisations, and young people themselves.
My Department also administers the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme via local ETBs to support activities at local youth clubs and groups; and also funds 21 Youth Information Centres which provide young people with access to information on rights, opportunities, benefits, health, welfare and other matters.
In addition, the Capital Funding Scheme has provided small to medium capital grants to qualifying youth projects which are in receipt of funding from DCYA. Eligible youth projects make an application through their local Education and Training Board.
