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Youth Services Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 May 2019

Tuesday, 28 May 2019

Ceisteanna (31)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

31. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the details of future investment in youth supports and infrastructure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22691/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The overall budget allocation for the youth sector in 2019 is € 60.4m in current funding.  This represents an additional €1.5m over 2018; an increase of €8.5m in the youth funding provided in 2016. The level of funding supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the youth work sector.  The additional funding will be used to support programmes in areas where there are disadvantaged young people and where there is a pressing need for targeted services to meet the needs of young people.

As the Deputy is aware my Department is managing the most significant reform of youth services ever undertaken. This reform will provide an opportunity to identify need and to focus funding on young people most in need of intervention.  Future development and investment in youth services will be informed by the mapping exercise completed in 2017, 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 ETBs to identify need and explore ways to address this need where it emerges.

The provision of additional funding to my Department to support the provision of youth services and infrastructure is a matter for consideration in the context of the annual Estimates and Budgetary process and having regard to the resources available to the Government.

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