Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 June 2021
478. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has been appraised of the challenges facing communities with underage antisocial behaviour in locations (details supplied); if funding will be made available under UBU your place-your space to work with marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable young persons in these communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29470/21]
View answerThe Deputy may wish to also refer to my colleague the Minister for Justice, who has responsibility for overarching national strategies to tackle antisocial behaviour and crime, including among young people. I will set out for the Deputy what is being done in this respect by youth services.
My Department currently allocates targeted youth funding of €41.8 million via the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme, which became operational on 1 July 2020. The mission of the scheme is to provide out-of-school supports to marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable young people in their communities to enable them to overcome adverse circumstances and achieve their full potential. There is clear evidence that participation in youth work develops a young person's social and personal competencies and fosters their resilience, all of which are preventative measures against antisocial behaviour to which the Deputy refers.
Funding for the provision of targeted youth services is administered on behalf of my Department by the 16 Education and Training Boards nationwide, which allocate funding via applications to the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme.
Key to achieving the aims of the scheme is the development of the Area Profile and Needs Assessment Tool. The purpose of this tool is to allow each ETB to avail of quantitative and qualitative information to objectively identify the needs of young people within their functional area. This analysis leads to the development of a Service Requirement which is then used as the basis for discussion between ETBs and service providers in terms of service delivery to meet the needs of young people in the area. The approach ensures that we can target funding and supports to the young people most in need of intervention and that funding is allocated on the basis of evidence-informed need.
It is advised that any proposed service in the locations referred to by the Deputy wishing to apply for youth funding should liaise with the relevant ETB in the first instance.
