Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2022
591. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans under consideration to move to a competitive tendering process for youth services; if analysis on the way that this would impact on youth services has been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38854/22]
View answer601. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm that the current agreed process of issuing a service requirement to each of the existing funded organisations will be maintained as preparations for cycle 2 of the new youth sector funding scheme are underway; if his Department has no intention of moving towards a competitive tendering process for existing funded youth projects and services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39137/22]
View answer611. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to change the funding model for regional youth services to a competitive tender process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39554/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 591, 601 and 611 together.
There are no plans to change the funding model for regional youth services to a competitive tender process.
The next cycle for UBU Your Place Your Space is due to start on 1 January 2024. This is to be preceded by an area profiling exercise and application process. UBU Your Place Your Space does allow for changes or improvements, as might be expected in a cyclical scheme. However, as regards the underlying policy, no change to the approach set out in the policy and operating rules has been proposed or agreed.
The function of the service requirement is set out in section 3.2 of the UBU Your Place Your Space Policy and Operating Rules, noting that it enables the ETB to set out priority needs of young people in a geographic area to organisations applying for funding under the scheme. Section 3.4 states that an area profiling exercise as prescribed by the Department is to be completed to produce service requirements in advance of the application process.
My Department is currently engaging with the Education and Training Boards in regard to the preparations for the next cycle of UBU Your Place Your Space.
