I propose to take Questions Nos. 544 and 553 together.
Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services is the strategic framework for the youth work sector, published in September 2024. The strategy aims to build awareness of youth services, strengthen youth services, and ensure that youth services remain accessible and of value to young people across Ireland. The strategy was developed with direct input from young people, whose voices and perspectives were central to shaping its priorities and actions.
As the Deputy is aware, action 9 commits to mapping the availability and distribution of youth work and wider youth services across Ireland against key demographic data. Following the successful transfer of the mapping data from the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality to the Department of Education and Youth, the department has now completed this internal mapping aspect, capturing both youth worker-led and volunteer-led provision nationwide. This first phase has produced an internal dashboard that presents a structured overview of services by location and type, enabling clearer identification of geographical patterns and service gaps in line with population needs. This initiative will help inform future investment decisions, guide service expansion, and enhance accessibility by identifying geographic and thematic gaps in provision.
Following completion of the internal aspect of the mapping tool, work is now underway on the external map, which will be accessible to young people, parents, guardians and teachers. This element is currently being progressed by another unit within the department. Once finalised, the map will be shared with stakeholders and made available to the wider public.
