23. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she supports the establishment of a cross-Government youth infrastructure unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54157/26]

The Department of Education and Youth is committed to supporting the delivery of high-quality youth work and non-formal developmental opportunities to young people.

Responsibility for the youth facilities from which these supports are provided varies depending on the ownership and governance arrangements of individual premises. Youth infrastructure may be owned and managed by Education and Training Boards (ETBs), local authorities, youth organisations themselves, or by community and voluntary bodies and private entities.?

Given the diverse nature of the youth sector and the variety of ownership arrangements in place, responsibility for youth infrastructure is shared across a range of stakeholders at national and local level.?The Department of Education and Youth provides funding to support youth services and, through capital investment programmes, contributes to the development and enhancement of youth facilities.

The ownership, maintenance and day-to-day management responsibilities for individual youth facilities, however, generally rest with the relevant, youth service, property owner or managing body.?

This position will be reflected in the implementation plan that is being developed to support the youth strategy, Opportunities for Youth. This plan recognises that a range of departments, state agencies and other stakeholders have responsibilities in relation to the provision of youth spaces and youth facilities.

To support a more coordinated approach across Government, Opportunities for Youth provides for the establishment of an interdepartmental and interagency group on State-funded youth work services.

This group will bring together relevant departments and agencies that support or fund youth services to develop a renewed whole-of-government vision for state-funded youth work services, improve coherence and complementarity across schemes, and promote a more joined-up approach to supporting young people.

This collaborative structure will also support the development of a shared understanding of the role of youth work services, including youth facilities and spaces, in meeting the evolving needs of young people.

The deputy may also wish to note that work is currently underway within the department to finalise the details of the 2026 youth capital funding scheme.??The scheme will support the purchase of essential equipment, upgrades to youth facilities and digital infrastructure for youth organisations and youth services.??

The department is also currently progressing a national youth services mapping project, which is being developed to strengthen the evidence base for planning, funding and supporting youth services across the country.