Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
318. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline all capital grant or support programmes available from her Department or known to her Department that are available to local youth organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53210/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraArising from Budget 2026, an additional €8 million in current and capital funding was made available to support the sustainability and development of youth services. This brings the overall core current and capital funding available to support existing youth services and youth work infrastructure to €94.1 million for 2026, representing a 9.3% increase on the corresponding funding available in 2025.
In 2026, the core current funding allocation of €90.1 million supports existing youth services and youth organisations across both targeted and universal provision for young people. This significant investment contributes directly to sustaining and enhancing participation levels across all youth funding schemes, which now involve over 450,000 young people nationwide.
This investment supports the implementation of Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services 2024 - 2028 and reflects a strong commitment to ensuring all young people can access high-quality, inclusive supports in their communities.
There has been a significant increase in dedicated capital funding for the youth sector which will be aligned with the National Development Plan (NDP) framework. This framework marks the first time that the youth sector has had clear visibility and certaintyregardingcapital funding over a multi-year period.
Under the NDP, youth capital funding of €4.0 million will be available annually to support the youth sector from 2026 to 2030. The 2026 capital allocation representsa significant increase of €3.5 million on the 2025 allocation and an enhancement on the annual youth capital allocations of recent years.
Importantly, establishing a defined youth capital envelope under the NDP provides a predictable basis for planning, allowing the youth sector to prepare projects in a structured and strategic way. It also supports value for money and a coherent long-term development of youth facilities nationally.
Work is currently underway within the department to finalise the 2026 youth capital funding scheme. In parallel, 2026 will serve as an important scoping and preparation year for the wider youth capital programme under the NDP to 2030, including building relationships with key external stakeholders. Youth participation will also be a key element of this planning process. Engagement with the youth sector more broadly will ensure that investment is targeted at areas of greatest need.
In addition to capital support, the department funds a number of other schemes aimed at supporting youth services and youth organisations throughout the country. Of these, the largest scheme is UBU Your Place Your Space (UBU), which targets young people aged between 10 and 24 identified as marginalised, vulnerable and at risk of not flourishing. The scheme funds 258 targeted youth services across the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs). Over €53 million has been allocated to the UBU scheme in 2026. Funding provided under the UBU scheme has increased by over €10 million, or 24%, over the period 2021 to 2025.
In addition, targeted initiatives such as the Summer Holiday Meals Pilot Programme, introduced in 2025 and continued in 2026, provide further support to UBU-funded services. The programme enables participating youth services to provide a hot or substantial meal to young people attending during June, July and August. This initiative is aimed at engaging young people who may be at risk of not having consistent access to nutritious meals during school closure periods, while also supporting their continued participation in summer youth programmes.
The Youth Services Grant Scheme (YSGS) provides funding to 35 National Youth Organisations to provide universal youth services across Ireland, in both urban and rural areas. The department is providing €15.2 million this year under this scheme, an increase of 3%. The YSGS plays a crucial role in supporting rural youth by ensuring that young people have access to clubs, activities, and supports that foster their growth and engagement. These organisations enhance the wider youth sector by offering training for volunteer youth workers, promoting evidence-based youth work, and advocating for the voluntary youth sector. This ensures that rural young people can benefit from high-quality services despite geographical challenges.
The Youth Climate Justice Fund supports national youth organisations to establish youth-led initiatives related to climate justice at community, regional and national level. The primary objective of the fund is to further the active engagement of young people in climate justice activities, initiatives and programmes that develop and support their knowledge, agency and empowerment in relation to climate justice.
The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, funded by the department and administered by the ETBs, supports volunteer-led youth clubs across the country. Over €2.8 million has been provided by the department for this scheme in 2026, an increase of over 4% on the 2025 level. This scheme ensures that rural communities can have access to volunteer-led youth clubs and groups fostering personal development, inclusion, and well-being.
Complementing this, the department has also introduced the YSGS Volunteer Activation Fund - an initiative designed to enhance the recruitment, retention, and support of volunteers who are vital to the delivery of universal youth services. Over €1.2 million funding will be made available in 2026/2027, and twelve YSGS-funded national youth organisations were successful in securing support. Their programmes will focus on initiatives such as recruiting new volunteers, supporting and retaining existing volunteers, developing training materials, and expanding the number of volunteer-led clubs operating across the country.
Finally, the Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative (TYESI) supports youth services in the provision of wraparound supports to enable young people to overcome significant challenges in their lives and increase their employability skills and competencies.
