Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2021
204. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he will apply special emphasis on integration to youth organisations or otherwise; if the need for such action has become more obvious in recent times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5974/21]
View answerMy Department provides a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country. This includes the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme which provides out-of-school supports in local communities to marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable young people between the age of 10 and 24. Within youth organisations supported under this scheme, young people are free to participate in a wide range of quality non-formal and informal educational activities, which address inequality, celebrate diversity, and promote inclusion. Among the key objectives of the scheme is the improvement of outcomes for young people in a range of policy areas including health, education and inclusion, and to improve access for young people to informal and non-formal educational, developmental, recreational and cultural opportunities.
The UBU Your Place Your Space scheme is governed by the UBU Policy and Operating Rules, which pays cognisance to a number of different policy areas. In this regard, the scheme draws on both the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2017–2021 and the Migrant Integration Strategy, as well as other inclusion and participation strategies aimed at young people. In this regard, there is a strong emphasis on integration within the scheme and the needs led approach allows for the ongoing identification of young people for entry into the scheme.
As the Deputy may be aware, all 16 Education and Training Boards across the country play a lead role is assisting my Department in the youth services area and they each employ a Youth Officer. The UBU scheme is underpinned by the Area Profile, Needs Assessment and Service Requirement (APNASR) process. The APNASR Tool, which is utilised by every ETB, supports them to gather available demographic data and local knowledge to produce an area profile of their functional area. The ETB then carries out an analysis of the data to identify the needs of young people in that area. This results in a Service Requirement for new or existing projects that will be funded by the Department under UBU. The approach ensures that we can target supports to the young people most in need of intervention and that funding is allocated on the basis of evidence-informed need.
The UBU scheme recognises that many young people are marginalised in today’s society, including those from migrant, Roma and traveller backgrounds who are targeted for inclusion in the scheme. We very much appreciate the challenges Covid-19 has posed and is posing for young people from these communities, and my officials are in regular contact with youth sector representatives in relation to the impact of the pandemic and associated health restrictions.
My Department also provides funding to 30 National Youth Organisations under a Youth Services Grant Scheme and many of these organisations have shown leadership and commitment to the integration agenda.
My Department has continued to provide funding to organisations throughout Covid-19 to ensure that these young people continue to be engaged within the parameters of public health guidance. It is in recognition of the importance of supporting young people at this time that I have secured an additional €5 million investment in youth services for 2021. This funding will support the delivery of universal and targeted youth services nationwide. This includes an increase for all UBU youth services and national organisations working with marginalised, vulnerable and disadvantaged young people. My officials will continue to work closely with youth organisations and will actively monitor the situation.
