Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 October 2020
179. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration his plans to engage with the National Youth Council of Ireland and Tusla in advance of budget 2021 in order to address inadequate funding in the sector. [29020/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department maintains close contact with the 30 national youth organisations we fund, including NYCI, and I, and officials from my Department, meet formally with these organisations twice a year to share knowledge and information on developments in the youth sector.
Officials from my Department also meet with youth organisations on an individual basis when the need arises. In recent months, my Department has also worked in close partnership with representatives of the youth sector to develop bespoke guidance for youth organisations, in line with the central public health guidance.
While acknowledging the very deep funding cuts over 2008-2014, in more recent years funding for the provision of youth services has increased on an annual basis. Between 2016 and 2020 the annual current youth funding available to my Department has increased from €51.9m to €61.79.
It is now more critical than ever that our young people are supported as they experience the social, economic, physical and mental health impacts of the pandemic. In recognition of the vital role played by youth work in providing such support to young people, funding levels have been maintained throughout the current challenging period. This has enabled the youth sector to continue to provide supports to young people, particularly to marginalised, disadvantaged and vulnerable young people.
With the invaluable assistance of Education and Training Boards and national organisations, the funding from my Department supports national and local youth programmes involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff, 1,500 youth clubs and 40,000 adult volunteers who work with and for young people in communities across the country.
I am committed to supporting the youth sector, which has enormous value both to the many young people involved and from a broader social and economic viewpoint.
I can also assure the Deputy that my Department has engaged with Tusla with regard to its resource requirements in advance of Budget 2021 and has reflected these appropriately in my Department’s pre-budget submission and further engagements with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform throughout the Estimates process towards Budget 2021.
