Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 March 2018
512. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of youth workers funded in south-west County Cork; the way in which this number compares proportionally with the number of youth workers employed throughout the rest of the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11121/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that my Department is managing the most significant reform of youth services ever undertaken. This will provide an opportunity to identify need and to focus the bulk of the €58.9m funding available in 2018 on young people most in need of intervention. Last year, I approved funding for the establishment of new youth projects and for the augmentation of a small number of existing youth services to meet new challenges arising from population increases.
Each of the sixteen Education and Training Boards, including Cork ETB, was invited to nominate locations within their catchment areas for the establishment of new services and to nominate a project or service to be considered for augmentation. In total twenty-eight applications for new services were received. Subsequently I approved the establishment of nine new targeted youth services across the country and the expansion of a further seven to respond to new demand from increased population and needs of young people which included a new service in Mitchelstown and an augmented service in Middleton.
Future development and investment in youth services will be informed by the mapping exercise completed last year which mapped youth service provision across the State. This mapping will assist the Department and the relevant ETB in developing a detailed social demographic profile in terms of both population numbers and deprivation levels. My Department is committed to working with Cork ETB to identify need and explore ways to address this need where it emerges.
