Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 February 2024
101. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the financial allocation in 2024 for youth services; if this funding will enable the roll out of additional services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9727/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Budget 2024 allocation for youth services is €77.95 million, an increase of 26% in youth service funding since 20220.
This funding includes the following schemes which support the establishment of additional youth services:
• the Youth Service Grant Scheme (YSGS) provides funding to a range of national and regional universal youth services. The YSGS is being expanded in 2024 to enable a number of new youth services to apply for funding under the scheme;
• the Targeted Youth Employment Support Initiative which will support the provision of intensive support to help young people who are not in education, training or employment to return to education or enter the workforce.
In addition to the allocation of €77.95 million to youth services, I secured an additional €2million in funding under the Migrant Integration Fund to support the integration of young people who have fled from the Ukraine war. This funding will support local youth services and youth clubs to expand existing youth services and to create new services.
The breakdown of youth service funding between the various funding schemes are set out in the table below.
Youth Funding 2024 .
|
Current Funding |
2024 Funding Provision |
|
Youth Services Grant Scheme |
€14,572,169 |
|
Youth Information Centres |
€1,534,006 |
|
ETB Youth Grant |
€5,208,196 |
|
Local Youth Club Grant Scheme |
€2,500,000 |
|
New Initiatives and other funding streams |
€1,260,000 |
|
Policy and Support Programmes (inc. contingency) |
€1,759,897 |
|
Other National Youth Organisations and Youth Initiatives |
€2,071,034 |
|
UBU Your Place Your Space Funding Scheme and other targeted youth funding |
€48,042,698 |
|
Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative |
€1,000,000 |
|
Migrant Integration Fund for young people from Ukraine |
€2, 000, 000 |
|
Total |
€79,948,000 |
