Brendan Smith
Question:127. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice when a health impact assessment will be carried out in respect of the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18239/24]
View answerRegulatory Impact Assessments
Questions (127)
Written answers
The General Scheme of the Sale of Alcohol Bill intends to modernise our existing licensing laws in line with the expectations and needs of today’s society, and to encourage the development of a modern and diverse night-time economy.
The proposed legislation endeavours to strike a balance between maintaining strict controls and safeguards in relation to the sale of alcohol, while providing support to those involved in our night time economy.
Given the known social and health effects associated with misuse of alcohol, Ireland has, for many decades, operated a restrictive regime for licencing. The General Scheme of the Bill retains that approach and will ensure that the sale of alcohol remains closely regulated.
Throughout the development of the Bill, my Department engaged in an extensive consultation process with representative bodies in the licensed trade, businesses, public health bodies and advocacy groups, consumers and communities in relation to the proposed legislation.
A public consultation, including an online survey and a request for submissions, ran from November 2021 until January 2022. More than 5,000 responses were received. These included responses from Alcohol Action Ireland; Ballymun Local Drugs and Alcohol Task Force; The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland; The Health Service Executive Alcohol Programme; Institute of Public Health; Irish Community Action on Alcohol Network and National Suicide Research Foundation.
In addition, a webinar and panel discussion event was held on 10 March 2022. The consultation process demonstrated that there is a strong demand for reform and modernisation of the law in this area.
I can assure the Deputy that public health is a factor for my Department when considering the introduction of reforms with regard to the sale of alcohol. As part of the overall process, my Department continues to engage with various public and voluntary health bodies on any potential health implications as the Bill progresses.
It is my intention to separate the Sale of Alcohol Bill into two Bills. Firstly, I intend to introduce the Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2024. This is a shorter Bill to introduce a number of key reforms contained in the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022 to modernise our licensing system, including:-
• The standardisation of opening hours for pubs and off-licences.
• The introduction of an annual late bar permit and an annual nightclub permit.
• The inclusion of new grounds of objection in line with the Zero Tolerance Third National Strategy to Tackle Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
• Strengthening of the powers of An Garda Síochána to ensure that public safety and order are maintained.
• To provide that licensing applications, which are currently heard in the Circuit Court, will move to the District Court.
• The inclusion of the provision for outdoor seating.
Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children
Questions (128)
Carol Nolan
Question:128. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice if her Department can provide data on the number of unaccompanied minors who have arrived at Dublin Airport for each of the years 2019 to date; the procedures followed by her Department or the border management unit and the Garda National Immigration Bureau when an unaccompanied minor child enters the state without correct identification or no identification; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18251/24]
View answerWritten answers
Both I and my Department takes very seriously the role it has in protecting the best interests and welfare of unaccompanied minors arriving at ports of entry, in the international protection process and the wider immigration system.
The information sought by the Deputy with regard to the number of unaccompanied minors (UM) who arrived at Dublin Airport and indicated they wished to register as Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) or wished to apply for International Protection (IP) is set out in the following table.
All unaccompanied people under the age of 18 who arrive at Dublin Airport are managed in the first instance with a focus on child safeguarding. Any person suspected of being an unaccompanied minor is referred by immigration officials to the Child and Family Agency (Tusla).
|
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 (end of March) |
|
IP UM |
50 |
18 |
26 |
97 |
70 |
12 |
|
BOTPs UM |
|
|
|
165 |
127 |
23 |
|
Total |
50 |
18 |
26 |
262 |
197 |
35 |
The table may include people that were subsequently deemed to be adults following referral to Tusla.
Constitutional Amendments
Questions (129)
Carol Nolan
Question:129. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice if the concerns expressed by officials within the legal and immigration units of her Department and obtained an FOI request from an organisation (details supplied) were brought to her attention prior to the recent family and care referenda; when this took place; her response to these concerns, particularly with respect to the clear views of staff within her Department's immigration units that if the constitutional amendments were passed this would likely result in massively increased legal costs and the destabilisation of the State's capacity to maintain an effective immigration system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18284/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, referendums were held on 8th March 2024 on the Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023 and the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023.
Officials from my Department, as in others, gave detailed consideration to issues within Departmental responsibility to inform and assist the drafting the proposed amendments.
The records to which the Deputy refers to relate to a scoping exercise carried out in mid-2023 by civil servants in my Department regarding the possible implications of amending the Constitution in relation to the family and care and are not an analysis of the Government’s proposed wording of the amendments as contained in the Bills published in December 2023.
The proposed text of the amendments continued to be drafted throughout the remainder of 2023 and were not finalised until later in the year. Issues relating to immigration, and on which I was briefed, were given careful consideration by the Inter-Departmental Group on Referendums on Gender Equality, the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services and were subject to the advice of the Attorney General in advancing the drafting of the amendments that were contained in the December 2023 Bills.
The Minister for Justice has a wide power to determine the conditions which may apply for any particular immigration scheme including as to the refusal of an application on public policy or public security grounds.
Departmental Funding
Questions (130)
Mark Ward
Question:130. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice when applications for the community safety innovation fund will be open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18382/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, in 2021 I announced the creation of the Community Safety Innovation Fund (CSIF) to reinvest proceeds of crime funds returned to the exchequer by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) back into communities, in order to fund innovative local projects aimed at building stronger, safer communities. The fund had an initial allocation of €2m in 2022, which increased to €3m in 2023, and the fund was further increased to €3.75m in Budget 2024.
Investing this money back into the community is a tangible way of showing that there can be a direct link between the activities of law enforcement and building stronger, safer communities.
I can advise the Deputy that in 2022, the CSIF paid out over €1.6m to successful projects, and €2.9m in 2023.
Next month, I expect to launch the call for applications for CSIF 2024. The fund encourages and supports the development of innovative ways in which to improve community safety from those people who best understand the needs in their locality.
Departmental Advertising
Questions (131)
Ged Nash
Question:131. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice for figures on the total spend for all forms of advertising in the years 2022 and 2023 in her Department; if figures can be provided on each Department’s spend on local media advertising (print and broadcast respectively, and broken down on that basis) for those years; if the Department used/uses an agency to place advertising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18396/24]
View answerWritten answers
It has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.
Departmental Contracts
Questions (132)
Carol Nolan
Question:132. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice if her Department has at any time engaged the services of a company (details supplied) or allocated the company funding or support in any capacity; if she or her officials have engaged with personnel from the company; if so, the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18448/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can inform the Deputy that my Department has not engaged the services of the company in question, and neither has it funded or supported that company in any capacity. I can also inform the Deputy that neither I, nor officials from my Department, have engaged with personnel from that company.
Animal Welfare
Questions (133)
Claire Kerrane
Question:133. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Government made a submission to the recent EU consultation on animal welfare during transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18150/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has indicated to the EU Commission that it is generally supportive of the revision of the EU rules on animal welfare during transport, to facilitate intracommunity trade and export of live animals to third countries. The existing legislation is some 20 years old and certain aspects need to be updated in the light of practical implementation challenges and more recent scientific evidence.
My Department have been engaged with the European Commission since they commenced their review of the current legislative framework on animal welfare during transport and on developing legislation to improve the protection of animals during transport. In 2021 the Department made a written submission and presentation to the European Parliament's Committee of Inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport (the "ANIT Committee") which fed into the review process.
I have corresponded with Commissioner Kyriakides, both prior to and following the release of the Commission's legislative proposal (eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2023%3A770%3AFIN ). I have outlined to the Commissioner Ireland's support for measures to enhance the welfare of animals during transport, while pointing out that due consideration must be given to Ireland's unique geographical position. Ireland's farm families and agricultural sectors should not be disadvantaged compared with their counterparts in other Member States.
My Department has also consulted with stakeholders on the Commission proposals through the Calf Stakeholder Forum and exporters' associations.
Agriculture Supports
Questions (134)
Carol Nolan
Question:134. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will intervene with the Minister for Finance to support the extension of the tax warehousing scheme for the farm and forestry contractors sector in Ireland, which has been the most severely impacted by the bad weather since September 2023 and now faces huge cashflow difficulties due to the late spring sowing season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18208/24]
View answerWritten answers
While primary responsibility for taxation policy is with the Minister for Finance, I continue to work closely with him on taxation matters relating to the agri-food sector.
The tax debt warehousing scheme has offered valuable and practical liquidity support to businesses since it was introduced in May 2020 during the pandemic and continues to support businesses as they recover from the impacts of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. It has assisted businesses with their cash flow during difficult trading periods, allowing businesses to temporarily defer VAT, employer PAYE, certain self-assessed income tax liabilities, and wage subsidy scheme and employment wage subsidy scheme overpayments. This is on an interest-free basis for an extended period, up to the end of 2022, or until the end of April 2023 for those availing of the extended scheme. After this time, a 3% interest rate applies until the debt is either fully repaid or the customer otherwise exits the warehouse.
Taxpayers are not required to pay all of their warehoused debt by 1 May 2024. However, in order to avail of the 0 per cent interest and flexible payment options, they are required to engage with Revenue ahead of that date to make arrangements to pay the debt over an agreed period of time. We are informed by Revenue that it fully appreciates that there may be circumstances where businesses continue to experience cash flow difficulties, impacting either their ability to pay non-warehoused debt, or their ability to meet ongoing tax obligations on a timely basis. The advice remains that businesses should engage with Revenue as soon as such difficulties start to arise so that an agreed solution can be found.
In the case of a seasonal business, the option of a lower down payment and a payment break may be appropriate to alleviate the temporary cash flow difficulty for the business. These options can be considered on a case-by-case basis to suit the individual business circumstances and their capacity to pay, once the business engages with Revenue and submits their payment proposal. Revenue has a proven successful track record in supporting businesses with cash flow difficulties, by agreeing flexible “Phased Payment Arrangements” that take account of the financial circumstances of each business and their capacity to pay.
I am informed that the total debt in the warehouse has decreased substantially since January 2022. At the end of March 2024, €1.65 billion remained outstanding in respect of 55,490 individual taxpayers. Approximately 70 per cent of customers with debts in the warehouse owed amounts less than €5,000. The bulk of the debt (€1.41 billion) was warehoused by 5,040 customers with outstanding balances greater than €50,000. As of 22 April 2024, Revenue has advised that there were 2,876 customers from the “Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing” sector availing of the Debt Warehouse with aggregated debt of €15.8 million. Specific figures for farm and forestry contractors are not available.
Forestry Sector
Questions (135)
Claire Kerrane
Question:135. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will commit to commencing an immediate review of the forestry programme, given that more than six months have now passed since the programme's inception and the persistently low levels of uptake by farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18237/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has committed to undertaking a mid term review of the current Forestry Programme in 2025. This will be conducted in consultation with all stakeholders. Depending on the outcome of this review, certain proposed changes may be required to be notified to the European Commission under State Aid Rules. These resulting agreed changes will be implemented prior to the end of the current Forestry Programme 2023-2027 term.
The new Forestry Programme 2023-2027 aims to encourage a substantial increase in afforestation by offering attractive and diverse options for planting, especially for farmers. This government has committed €1.3 billion of funding to the Programme in order to support our national ambition of 8,000 hectares of afforestation per year.
In order to encourage uptake, my Department has engaged in extensive promotion of the forestry options available, including through the funding of 42 stakeholder projects. These projects will promote the Forestry Programme through a wide variety of approaches and will engage with the wider community to highlight the benefits of forests as a source of biodiversity, enjoyment and inspiration.
A targeted media campaign was rolled out across all media and will continue throughout 2024. In addition, my officials are meeting regularly with professional foresters to provide information and any training needed.
Minister of State Hackett has established a Forestry Strategy Consultative Committee (FSCC) to make contributions to the development and implementation of the Forest Strategy, including the Forestry Programme. Members of the FSCC have been selected from a broad range of relevant stakeholders. This Committee will establish a range of sub-groups to inform its activities, and in this regard an Afforestation Technical Working Group has been established and will meet regularly.
I recognise that planting at the scale required is a challenge but believe that it is in all our interests to work towards this target. It will require a concerted and united effort from all those interested in forestry across communities, public bodies, the forestry sector and farmers to make this a reality. I am committed to working closely with all stakeholders to facilitate further momentum towards increased planting.
Agriculture Schemes
Questions (136)
Michael Ring
Question:136. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive his TB compensation payment considering that the herd was removed on 14 February last; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18253/24]
View answerWritten answers
The primary compensation scheme for farmers whose herds are affected by TB is the On-Farm Market Valuation Scheme under which compensation is payable for cattle removed as reactors.
My officials have informed me that the herdowner in question entered a breakdown on 18th January 2024 and has had 20 reactor animals removed to date. The herdowner is due to receive two separate payments under the On Farm Market Valuation scheme in respect of animals valued for removal under the scheme. Both of these payments are currently undergoing pre-payment validation checks and are due to be issued to the nominated account of the herdowner shortly.
Agriculture Supports
Questions (137)
Claire Kerrane
Question:137. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with the Minister for Finance on sectoral requests for an extension to the tax warehousing scheme for agricultural and forestry contractors, given concerns around financial and weather constraints on work activity in the agricultural and forestry contractor sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18257/24]
View answerWritten answers
While primary responsibility for taxation policy is with the Minister for Finance, I continue to work closely with him on taxation matters relating to the agri-food sector.
The tax debt warehousing scheme has offered valuable and practical liquidity support to businesses since it was introduced in May 2020 during the pandemic and continues to support businesses as they recover from the impacts of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. It has assisted businesses with their cash flow during difficult trading periods, allowing businesses to temporarily defer VAT, employer PAYE, certain self-assessed income tax liabilities, and wage subsidy scheme and employment wage subsidy scheme overpayments. This is on an interest-free basis for an extended period, up to the end of 2022, or until the end of April 2023 for those availing of the extended scheme. After this time, a 3% interest rate applies until the debt is either fully repaid or the customer otherwise exits the warehouse.
Taxpayers are not required to pay all of their warehoused debt by 1 May 2024. However, in order to avail of the 0 per cent interest and flexible payment options, they are required to engage with Revenue ahead of that date to make arrangements to pay the debt over an agreed period of time. We are informed by Revenue that it fully appreciates that there may be circumstances where businesses continue to experience cash flow difficulties, impacting either their ability to pay non-warehoused debt, or their ability to meet ongoing tax obligations on a timely basis. The advice remains that businesses should engage with Revenue as soon as such difficulties start to arise so that an agreed solution can be found.
In the case of a seasonal business, the option of a lower down payment and a payment break may be appropriate to alleviate the temporary cash flow difficulty for the business. These options can be considered on a case-by-case basis to suit the individual business circumstances and their capacity to pay, once the business engages with Revenue and submits their payment proposal. Revenue has a proven successful track record in supporting businesses with cash flow difficulties, by agreeing flexible “Phased Payment Arrangements” that take account of the financial circumstances of each business and their capacity to pay.
I am informed that the total debt in the warehouse has decreased substantially since January 2022. At end-March 2024, €1.65 billion remained outstanding in respect of 55,490 individual taxpayers. Approximately 70 per cent of customers with debts in the warehouse owed amounts less than €5,000. The bulk of the debt (€1.41 billion) was warehoused by 5,040 customers with outstanding balances greater than €50,000. As of 22 April 2024, Revenue has advised that there were 2,876 customers from the “Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing” sector availing of the Debt Warehouse with aggregated debt of €15.8 million. Specific figures for farm and forestry contractors are not available.
Pesticide Use
Questions (138)
Claire Kerrane
Question:138. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers will be penalised for spreading fertiliser that has phosphorus in it, given that many fertilisers have some level of fertilisers in them and considering new requirements to have soil tested before spreading compound fertilisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18279/24]
View answerWritten answers
To protect water quality, the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) for the Protection of Waters Regulations, as amended, sets limits regarding the application of certain nutrients, including Phosphorus to agricultural soils.
Since January 2023, all arable land and holdings with a grassland stocking rate greater than 130 kg Nitrogen per hectare in the previous year must be subject to soil analysis, including an assessment of the soil's Phosphorous content. In the absence of a valid soil test, such land is assumed to be at soil Phosphorous Index 4. With some limited exceptions, this prohibits the application of chemical and/or imported organic Phosphorous to these soils.
For non-arable land and land stocked at less than 130kg Nitrogen per hectare in the previous year, soil Phosphorus analysis is not mandatory. On this land a soil Phosphorous index of 3 is assumed in the absence of a valid soil sample. This allows maintenance levels of Phosphorous to be applied.
Exceeding fertilisation limits for agricultural soils represents a breach of the GAP Regulations and presents risks to water quality. In the case of direct payment applicants, this may lead to a sanction being applied to the farmer's CAP payments as appropriate. The scale of the sanction will be determined by the extent and severity of the breach. If a farmer is seeking to avail of a Nitrates Derogation, such a breach of their Phosphorous limit would result in their application for the Derogation being rejected and the farmer being deemed ineligible to avail of a Nitrates Derogation in the following year.
To reduce the risk of the loss of nutrients to water and to maximise economic sustainability, farmers purchasing fertiliser should only buy products that meet their soil and crops' nutritional requirements. These purchasing decisions should be informed by soil analysis and engagement of a Farm Advisory System accredited agricultural advisor where appropriate.
Veterinary Services
Questions (139)
Jackie Cahill
Question:139. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the schedule of fees paid to private veterinary practitioners for TB testing on farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18308/24]
View answerWritten answers
Private Veterinary Practitioners (PVPs) are paid for carrying out TB testing on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) on a scale depending on the numbers of animals being tested.
The rates are included in the excel spreadsheet attached.
Columns A to C refer to the number of animals being tested for TB testing and the corresponding rate.
Columns G to I refer to the number of animals being tested for Brucellosis and the corresponding rate.
Columns D to F refer to the "top-up" rate being paid where TB and Brucellosis testing is carried out on the same herd.
Departmental Advertising
Questions (140)
Ged Nash
Question:140. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for figures on the total spend for all forms of advertising in the years 2022 and 2023 in his Department; if figures can be provided on each Department’s spend on local media advertising (print and broadcast respectively, and broken down on that basis) for those years; if the Department used/uses an agency to place advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18385/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides public information about the Department's wide range of schemes, services and policies. This includes public information campaigns with advertising across radio, print, digital media and out of home advertising (OOH). Advertising is placed across both national and local media to communicate this information. This expenditure includes public information campaigns and the publication of Statutory Notices that are required to comply with various national and EU legislative requirements. My department uses a media buying agency to place advertising.
A breakdown of expenditure by year including expenditure on local print/broadcast for the period requested is set out in the table.
|
Year |
Total advertising expenditure |
Expenditure on local print advertising |
Expenditure on local broadcast advertising |
|
2022 |
741,490.98 |
64,255.68 |
0 |
|
2023 |
1,922,209.87 |
207,989.70 |
355,343.51 |
Departmental Contracts
Questions (141)
Carol Nolan
Question:141. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has at any time engaged the services of a company (details supplied) or allocated the company funding or support in any capacity; if he or his officials have engaged with personnel from the company; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18437/24]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not engaged the services of the company (details supplied) or allocated the company funding or support in any capacity.
International Protection
Questions (142)
Mattie McGrath
Question:142. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if additional rental payments are being made by Ukrainians to top up their ARP; if this is permitted in law; if Ukrainians benefitting from the ARP are given a distinct advantage over ordinary citizens seeking rental properties where the ARP is a tax-free payment for landlords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18363/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) was introduced in July 2022 to recognise the generosity of people who have opened their homes to provide accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) arriving in Ireland from Ukraine. The ARP is paid at the rate of €800 per month per property with a unique Eircode (vacant or shared). The scheme is provided for under Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 and is administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of my Department.
A person providing accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) on a commercial basis is ineligible to participate in the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) scheme. Where a rental agreement is in place, the ARP is not payable. The ARP does not create a landlord and tenant relationship between the accommodation host who has qualified for the financial contribution and the Ukrainians living in the accommodation. It does not give Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in accommodation an automatic right to tenancy.
There is no definitive evidence that the ARP has a displacement effect on the rental market. The majority of properties hosting BOTPs, particularly those arranged through the Irish Red Cross pledge and the “Offer a Home” scheme operated by local authorities, were not previously and are unlikely to be available in the private rental market. These properties are generally made available to displaced persons from Ukraine as a humanitarian gesture and the ARP recognises that generosity.
The Government will continue to keep the operation of the Scheme under review.
Disability Services
Questions (143, 144)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:143. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of school OT staff who exist for each of the past five years; and the number of school speech therapist staff who exist for each of the past five years. [18165/24]
View answerPeadar Tóibín
Question:144. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of speech therapist appointments that have been cancelled for each of the past five years; the number of cancellations of school OT services appointments in each of the past five years; and the number of cancellations of school psychology appointments in each of the past five years. [18166/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together.
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Youth Services
Questions (145)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:145. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18173/24]
View answerWritten answers
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. It acknowledges the important ongoing reform programme and further commits to the development of a new Youth Services Action Plan to provide a strategic direction for the delivery of youth services over the lifetime of the Framework.
In the process of developing this work, it was determined that there is a need for broader strategic policy vision to guide the identification of the most impactful actions. In view of this, it is intended that the final document will be a national strategy on youth work services and related non-formal developmental opportunities for young people.
Informed by extensive consultation, work is at an advanced stage in developing this document, which will focus on ensuring we have high-quality, inclusive and accessible youth work services and opportunities that support young people from all backgrounds to fully realise their potential and positively shape their own and our shared future. The measures to be included in the new strategy are still being identified. The focus will be on strategic actions that will be most impactful in maximising opportunities and outcomes for young people.
My Department has been leading a significant reform process in respect of the main funding schemes by which funding is allocated to the youth sector for their work with young people. The UBU Your Place Your Space scheme was launched in 2019 and provides a clear mechanism at local Education and Training Board level to ensure that resources are directed to where they are most needed, with a focus on young people who are disadvantaged, marginalised or otherwise vulnerable.
The Youth Services Grant Scheme, which provides funding to voluntary youth organisations that provide social and personal development opportunities to young people, is currently being reformed to ensure that we have a robust, modern and transparent funding infrastructure that meets the needs of young people.
Youth Services
Questions (146, 159)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:146. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding will be provided to ensure that youth workers are covered by the WRC recommendations to allow them to continue their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18174/24]
View answer
Willie O'Dea
Question:159. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide increased funding to ensure youth workers are covered by the WRC recommendations on section 39, section 10 and section 56 workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18419/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 159 together.
My Department does not directly employ youth workers. Rather, funding is allocated on a 'provision of service' basis to meet the needs of the youth population in an area. The recruitment and employment of staff including youth workers is a matter for the youth organisations and services in receipt of funding.