1439. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has considered increasing support for youth organisations in Galway whose funding has yet to match inflation, particularly those that have a positive effect on the well-being and mental health of young people in the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59074/26]

Supporting youth services and youth work is a priority for the Department of Education and Youth. The department is committed to ensuring that young people in Galway have access to valuable resources and opportunities that enable them to thrive.

Arising from Budget 2026, an additional €8 million in current and capital funding has been allocated to support the sustainability and development of youth services. This funding increase brings the overall core current and capital funding available to support existing youth services and infrastructure to €94.1 million for 2026, a 9.3% increase on the corresponding funding available in 2025.

Over €3.5 million in total youth funding has been allocated to Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board to support the provision of youth services within its functional area including Galway and surrounds this year:

• Over €2.7 million has been allocated under the UBU Your Place Your Space (UBU) scheme. The UBU scheme is the department’s largest funded youth scheme, targeting young people aged between 10 and 24 years old who are identified as marginalised, vulnerable and at risk of not flourishing.

• A further €68,000 funding has been provided under the Resilience and Effectiveness Scheme 2026. This initiative supports UBU funded organisations to deliver a more efficient and comprehensive service to young people, while ensuring that the services have sufficient resilience to operate effectively in the medium to long term.

• €34,594 has been allocated to Galway and Roscommon ETB under the UBU Summer 2026 Holiday Meals Pilot Initiative. The pilot will provide meals for young people attending youth services for the duration of the school summer holidays.

In addition to the above, over €700,000 youth funding has been allocated to Galway and Roscommon ETB in 2026 to fund a range of schemes and initiatives, including;

• Over €57,000 to fund Youth Information Centres to provide young people with access to information on rights, opportunities, benefits, health, welfare and other matters.

• €65,000 under the Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative which helps young people to engage in progression pathways leading to education, training and employment opportunities.

• Over €195,000 to support clubs/groups in Galway and Roscommon under the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme.

• Over €316,000 under the ETB Youth Grant funding to support the ETB in carrying out their functions relating to the administration of the department’s funding, and their role in co-ordinating and supporting youth services.

• €75,000 has been provided to enable the ETB to commence a pilot Irish youth work service, on the three offshore islands off the coast of Galway.

Regarding Budget 2027, funding for youth services will be considered by government as part of the annual estimates process. As this process is currently underway, the deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.

The department remains committed to its support for inclusive, needs based youth work that empowers young people to thrive and contribute positively to their communities. The department will maintain a proactive approach to ensure that youth services in Galway - and across the country - remain responsive, accessible, and impactful for all young people.