Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 October 2022
318. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he accepts that the measly 1.6% budget increase in funding for the provision of youth work is wholly inadequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50742/22]
View answerMy Department is making a significant investment in youth services in 2023, building on the increases in recent years and securing the achievements into the future.
The full package of funding for youth services and programmes in my Department is €75 million. This includes €72.95 million for current funding and €2.7 million in capital funds for minor works, equipment, and contributions towards playgrounds with local authorities. The year on year increase in the Budget figures is 1.6% in current, some 80% in capital, giving 2.4% overall.
From 2020 to Budget 2023, current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes increased from €61.789 million to €72.948 million, an 18% increase overall.
I intend for the increases to the Budget 2023 allocation to focus on further investment in local and national youth organisations. In particular the funding schemes of UBU Your Place Your Space, the Youth Services Grant Scheme and Youth Information Centres.
In securing €10 million over 2021 and 2022 I ensured that there was more than simple general increases. From 2021 on, I have secured funding for 16 new services under UBU Your Place Your Space, including a number in rural areas in Kerry, Clare, Mayo and Donegal. I have augmented the funding allocation for some 100 UBU funded organisations. I added over €1.58 million to their base funding in addition to the wider increase allocated in 2021 and 2022. This augmentation addressed cost pressures and assisted smaller organisations to increase their staffing levels. The new services and augmented allocations are secure in the current funding being provided in Budget 2023.
In addition, I have initiated a reform of the Youth Service Grant Scheme and commissioning research to inform plans to modernise youth information funding. This is the first time either of these funding schemes have received such attention in many years.
Consultation with key stakeholders is planned on 2023’s Budget allocation. My officials are examining the options for this year’s allocation in advance of the publication of the Revised Estimates Volume.
The increased level of funding will consolidate the achievements since 2020 and provide a strong platform into the future.
