Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2024
536. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as per the National Development Plan's reference to the need for continued capital investment for youth services, what funding has been made available to youth services under this plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10828/24]
View answerFrom 2020 to Budget 2024, Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes increased from €61.8 million to €77.95 million, a 26% increase overall.
My Department has not been allocated any capital funding for youth services in 2024. The funding made available for capital investment in youth services under the National Development Plan for the period 2021- 2023 was €3 million in 2021, €2.7 million in 2022 and a further €2.7 million in 2023. This funding supported small grants which enabled the purchase of essential equipment and the completion of minor works.
This year, my Department has prioritised the direct delivery of services and programmes for young people and has secured an increase of €5 million, or 6.8%, on the 2023 budget for current expenditure. This includes dedicated funding for the support of new universal services and €1 million for the Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative.
My Department will shortly begin to carry out a mapping exercise of youth services sector, which will map out the premises currently used for youth services and help to identify gaps and shortfalls in the availability of spaces for youth services. This analysis is necessary to enable the Department to determine how best to direct capital funding over the period ahead.
