Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
107. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way he is supporting the work of youth organisations in rural and remote communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19134/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department supports the delivery of youth services nationwide, with €77.95 million funding for youth service provision this year, an increase of €5 million, or 6.8%, on the 2023 budget. From 2020 to Budget 2024, current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes increased from €61.789 million to €77.95 million, a 26% increase overall.
Young people experiencing rural isolation are a specified target group under my Department's largest youth funding scheme UBU Your Place Your Space, under which €47million was allocated in 2024. Since the launch of this scheme in 2020, significant additional funding has been allocated to new services in rural towns and areas including projects targeting rural isolation in the Inishowen peninsula, Co. Donegal, West Iveragh and rural North Kerry, and rural Clare.
The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme funded by the Department and administered by the local Education and Training Boards supports volunteer led youth clubs across the country, and are particularly important in rural areas. €2.5 million has been provided by my Department for this scheme in 2024.
The Youth Services Grant Scheme provides funding to 30 national youth organisations to provide universal youth services across Ireland, urban and rural. My Department is providing €14.57 million this year under this scheme.
I am very cognisant of the challenges being experienced by some clubs in recruiting volunteers, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and my Department is actively exploring options on how to support organisations in this regard so that young people are able to have access to important local opportunities
My officials and I will also continue to engage with the Education and Training Boards across the country who have responsibility for supporting the provision, coordination, administration, and assessment of youth services in its functional area to understand the youth service needs of young people across the country, including those living in rural and remote communities.
