Written answer
Youth Services
103. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Youth the funding supports currently available for youth clubs and youth services operating in rural communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40693/26]
Comment on this
Young people experiencing rural isolation are a specified target group under the department's largest youth funding scheme: UBU Your Place Your Space, to which over €54 million is being allocated in 2026. Over 90,000 young people are supported annually by 258 UBU services.
Since the launch of this scheme in 2020, significant additional funding has been allocated to new services in rural towns across the country.
In 2025, additional funding of €1.2 million was secured for the establishment of a further ten new UBU youth services to provide targeted youth worker-led support to up to 1,000 disadvantaged young people where they are most needed. Many of these are located in rural areas.
In addition, the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, funded by the department and administered by the ETBs, supports volunteer-led youth clubs across the country, which are particularly important in rural areas. 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.
The Youth Services Grant Scheme 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.