The Young Ireland: National Policy Framework for Children and Young People recognises the important role of youth work services in supporting young people to thrive and fully develop their potential. In line with this, I have continued to invest significantly in youth services throughout the country so that every young person is given the opportunity to achieve their full potential. From Budget 2020 to Budget 2024, current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes increased from €61.789 million to €77.95 million, a 26% increase overall. Later this year, Government will publish a new national strategy to further enhance young people’s access to high quality youth work and related developmental opportunities and ensure all delivery partners are working together to deliver for young people. Work is at an advanced stage in respect of this document.
In respect of the Deputy's specific query on multi-annual funding, Exchequer funding for youth services is currently allocated on an annual basis in the Budgetary process. My Department is obliged to adhere to the public sector spending code, and therefore it is not possible to enter into multi-annual grant agreements with the youth organisations funded by my Department. However, in order to support organisations to have greater certainty of funding on a multi-annual basis, the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme, which is the largest scheme funded by my Department with €47million in funding in 2024, operates on a 3 year cycle basis, whereby funded youth services continue to receive funding over a 3 year period, subject to the completion of an annual Renewal form by the services involved. The new Targeted Youth Employment Support Initiative will operate on a similar basis, with a three year funding window for services, with annual renewal of funding within that period.
