The department is dedicated to enhancing the delivery and development of youth work services and opportunities for young people across the country.
Funding for the provision of targeted youth services is administered on behalf of the department of by education and training boards (ETBs), which allocate funding via applications to the UBU Your Place Your Space (UBU) scheme. This scheme is aimed at young people between the ages of 10 and 24 who are, or are at risk of becoming disadvantaged, marginalised or vulnerable.
In 2025, over €50 million was allocated to the UBU scheme. The scheme provides funding to 258 targeted youth services across 16 education and training boards (ETBs) which coordinate delivery of funding to the services in their local ETB areas.
Key to achieving the aims of the scheme is the development of the Area Profile and Needs Assessment Tool. The purpose of this tool is to allow each ETB to avail of quantitative and qualitative information to objectively identify the needs of young people within their functional area. This analysis leads to the development of a Service Requirement which is then used as the basis for discussion between ETBs and service providers in terms of service delivery to meet the needs of young people in the area. The approach ensures that we can target funding and supports to the young people most in need of intervention and that funding is allocated based on evidence-informed need.
I advise that any proposed service in the Dublin 9 area wishing to apply for funding should liaise with the City of Dublin ETB in the first instance.
