Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 November 2022
255. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he continues to interact with youth organisations throughout the country with a view to identifying their priorities and providing assistance if and when required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57228/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials from my Department meet with various youth organisations on an individual basis when the need arises, in regular formal meetings with individual organisations or as a group, and by maintaining informal contacts.
My Department provides funding to all 16 Education and Training Boards (ETB) to support youth services in their area and to support the work of the Youth Officer. Youth Officers provide an important support role to my Department in the co-ordination and administration of youth services at local level. My officials hold quarterly meetings with the ETBs and these meetings assist my Department in identifying service needs and emerging issues, particularly for vulnerable young people.
My officials also maintain contact with all 30 national youth organisations funded under the Youth Service Grant Scheme and with Gaisce. This has included meetings twice a year in an open forum attended by myself and officials. These meetings took place online during COVID-19 but the first in-person meeting of this group took place this week on November 16th. This meeting provided a fantastic opportunity for my officials and I to connect with the sector in this forum in person for the first time since 2019.
The Department will continue to ensure there is sufficient engagement with this important sector which provides enormous value to young people.
