Youth Services

94. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth the funding to be provided for youth services in 2027; the number of additional staff to be recruited through this funding, broken down by role, funding scheme and county; the net increase in staffing compared with 2026; and the timetable for recruitment and filling these posts, in tabular form. [74607/26]

Youth services do important work, particularly with young people experiencing disadvantage, social isolation and mental health difficulties, yet these organisations operate with inadequate staffing levels and considerable financial pressures. My question concerns the additional funding for youth services in budget 2027. How many additional staff will be recruited and what is the timetable for filling those posts? Will the Minister clarify how much of the funding will actually translate into additional front-line youth workers?

I thank the Deputy. Both the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and I wish to acknowledge the outstanding work carried out by approximately 2,000 youth workers across the country. The youth sector delivers high-quality youth work and non-formal education opportunities to approximately 450,000 young people aged between ten and 24 years of age. Within this broader context, over 90,000 young people participate in the 258 UBU Your Place Your Space services nationally, supporting them to develop personal and social skills, strengthen well-being, and reach their full potential. In 2026, current funding of over €90 million is provided to support existing youth services. Building on this, budget 2027 increases current funding for youth work services by €7 million, bringing total current funding to over €97 million for next year. This represents an increase of almost 8% on 2026 levels. The overall increase in youth funding since 2020 is more than €34 million. It is important to note that the Department does not employ or fund youth worker posts directly. The Department provides funding to youth services and youth organisations to provide youth services. These organisations are responsible for determining their staffing requirements and deploying resources in a manner that best meets the needs of young people who use these services. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, and departmental officials are currently considering allocation of the 2027 funding across the range of youth schemes and programmes. Once those are determined, any additional staffing to be recruited, the specific roles to be recruited, recruitment timelines or any net change in staffing levels arising from funding allocations will be decisions for the individual funded organisations, having regard to operational needs and available resources. The Department will continue to engage closely with youth services as allocations are finalised.

I acknowledge the enormous contribution of local youth services, often operating on a shoestring. In Cork East, we have excellent examples of this work done through the Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services, CDYS, in Mitchelstown, Fermoy, Midleton, Carrigtohill and Cloyne, and we have a separately run and very dynamic youth service in Cobh. The reach of their work is extraordinary relative to the resources available to them. These services do far more than organise activities. They help young people to build confidence, forge friendships, reconnect with education, pursue projects and navigate difficult circumstances in their lives. As a psychologist, I am particularly conscious of the importance of this work in preventing difficulties from becoming more entrenched. Much of that happens quietly, without the recognition it deserves. I understand what the Minister of State said - that the Department did not directly fund posts - but does he have any ballpark idea of how many extra youth workers will be funded through budget 2027?

As regards the allocation, we got an extra €7 million in the budget in relation to youth services. Quite rightly, we commend the work being done across the country by youth services. In many instances, they are reaching young people who are very vulnerable and giving them the best possible path in life or the best possible opportunity to reach their potential in life. An awful lot of great work is being done by youth services, for which we have extra funding. We are considering that extra funding now to determine how we will allocate it over the next while. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, will make those decisions. We are considering that very meaningfully. It would not be appropriate for me to say that there will be extra workers. We understand the need for more people within the services. We also understand the need for other types of activities within youth services to ensure that we reach the most vulnerable people. I assure the Deputy that we will make the decisions in a timely manner.

We need to acknowledge the damage done to youth services during the austerity years. Under the Fine Gael-Labour Government, funding for youth organisations and special youth projects was cut dramatically. Between 2008 and 2015, funding fell by more than 44%, and that has had a far-reaching and very serious impact. While there have been increases in recent years, the sector has still not recovered from those cuts in real terms, despite a growing youth population and increasingly complex needs. We talk constantly about the importance of early intervention in mental health, but youth work is itself one of our most valuable forms of early intervention. Youth workers build relationships with young people, support them through very difficult periods in their lives and help them develop confidence, friendship and a sense of belonging. Does the Government have any actual plan to rebuild the capacity lost during the austerity years?

As the Deputy can see, we have increased funding this year for youth services. We have continued to do so quite considerably over recent years. We are investing in youth services and we acknowledge the work being done across the services. It is a hugely important piece of the Department. Youth services are now back with the Department of education, as they were going back many years. It is important that that role continue. We are increasing the investment and will continue to do so. The great work being done is not lost on me or anybody else in the Department, and we will continue to increase funding for youth services across the country.