Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
401. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps she is taking to support youth facilities and youth-led community initiatives in rural parts of Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68168/25]
View answerI am committed to supporting the delivery and development of youth services and youth-led community initiatives in Offaly, ensuring that both rural and urban communities benefit from these investments. Such services are central to fostering inclusion, participation, and leadership among young people. To achieve this, the department channels youth funding through the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs), which administer resources on our behalf. Funding is allocated annually to each ETB for youth services across their functional areas, rather than on a county-by-county basis. In this way, services in Offaly are supported through the allocations made to Laois and Offaly ETB (LOETB).
The department has made a significant investment in youth services in the LOETB area, with total funding rising from over €467,000 in 2020 to more than €890,000 in 2025. This represents an increase of over 91%, reflecting the Government’s commitment to strengthening youth provision and ensuring that young people in both rural and urban communities have access to quality supports and facilities.
The UBU Your Place Your Space scheme provides targeted youth funding to young people aged between 10 and 24 years who are identified as marginalised, vulnerable, or at risk of not flourishing. Through the ETBs, UBU supports a wide range of youth services across the country, ensuring that resources are directed to where they are most needed.
In 2025, over €460,000 was allocated to LOETB under the UBU scheme. This funding supports a number of local youth organisations, including those working with young people in Offaly. In addition, a further €20,000 was provided to LOETB under the Resilience and Effectiveness Scheme to strengthen the capacity of UBU-funded organisations in the ETB area and to enable them to respond to emerging needs.
Budget 2025 also provided an additional €1.2 million nationally for the establishment of ten new UBU services, each designed to deliver youth worker-led supports to young people in areas of greatest need. LOETB submitted a proposal for a new service in County Laois, and following a competitive assessment process, I am pleased to say that funding was awarded for a new rural UBU service – UBU Laois Connect – which will operate across Mountmellick, Mountrath, Rathdowney and surrounding areas.
Alongside this, the department has worked with the Child Poverty and Wellbeing Office in the Department of the Taoiseach to pilot a Summer 2025 Holiday Meals Programme. This initiative was designed to address holiday hunger among young people engaged with UBU services during the school summer break. Forty-one youth services nationwide participated, including the Offaly Traveller Movement, which provided hot meals to young people at risk of not having access to a substantial meal during the holiday period, with a budget of over €22,000. An external evaluation of the pilot has been commissioned by Education and Training Boards Ireland and is currently under review by department officials.
The Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative (TYESI) is designed to engage and support young people aged 15–24 who are not in education, employment or training, and who may face barriers to participation. The initiative provides tailored, youth worker-led interventions to build confidence, develop skills, and improve employability prospects. In 2025, funding of €60,000 was allocated to the Offaly Traveller Movement to deliver TYESI supports in the Birr and Tullamore areas. This investment enables young people from marginalised communities to access structured programmes locally, while also strengthening pathways into further education, training, and employment opportunities.
The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme (LYCGS) provides essential support to volunteer-led youth clubs across the country, enabling young people to participate in safe, inclusive activities within their own communities. In LOETB, funding under the scheme has increased from €82,544 in 2024 to €99,191 in 2025, representing a rise of 20.17%. This enhanced investment helps ensure that young people can continue to access youth clubs locally, while also supporting the retention and training of volunteer youth leaders who play a vital role in running these clubs. In 2024, over 1,200 young people took part in clubs in their communities across the LOETB area, supported by more than 300 youth leaders. Through the LYCGS, the department is committed to sustaining grassroots youth work and strengthening opportunities for young people in rural communities such as Offaly.
The newly launched Youth Night initiative took place on 21 November this year, providing an opportunity for young people and their communities to come together and celebrate youth work. The initiative was supported by funding of €22,000 to LOETB, enabling numerous youth clubs and services across the ETB area to open their doors to the public on the night. This event showcased the vibrancy of local youth services, highlighted the role of youth leaders, and encouraged wider community engagement with youth facilities.
Finally, I am pleased to announce that, arising from Budget 2026, an additional €8 million in current and capital funding has been allocated to support the sustainability and development of youth services. This investment strengthens the foundation for inclusive, high-quality provision — ensuring continuity, expanding reach, and enabling services to respond to the evolving needs of Ireland’s diverse youth population. Importantly, this includes young people in rural parts of County Offaly, where youth services and youth-led community initiatives play a vital role in fostering participation, leadership, and social inclusion.
The department remains committed to supporting youth work at both national and local levels, recognising the importance of community-based engagement in both rural and urban areas. The increased funding will enable universal and targeted youth services to continue delivering tailored supports and safe, welcoming spaces for young people in Offaly and across the country.
