Latest Laois News: Local Politicians welcome funding announced for Youth Services in Laois and Offaly

Funding announced for Youth Services in Laois welcomed

€17,500 Youth Services funding approved

Sean Fleming TD., Minister of State at the Department of Finance is pleased to confirm that Laois Offaly Education and Training Board has been approved for  €17,500 funding under a new Resilience and Effectiveness Initiative.

“Funding provided under the Resilience and Effectiveness Initiative helps smaller youth services to increase their youth work provision. It benefits organisations that have been facing cost pressures, including those that have seen a reduction in service provision in recent years

Laois Offaly Education and Training Board have identified 3 Youth Services which will benefit from funding under this new initiative. These groups play a valuable role in the lives of young people and in our communities throughout both counties.

I would like to thank all involved in these services for their work and commitment and look forward to the young people supported through these groups benefitting from this additional funding.”

Independent TD for Laois Offaly Carol Nolan has warmly welcomed the allocation of new funding for three youth services located within the constituency.

Deputy Nolan was speaking after the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, confirmed to her that Youth Work Ireland Tullamore will receive €7,900, Youth Work Ireland Portlaoise will be allocated €7,000 while the Offaly Traveller Movement is set to gain an additional €2,600.

The funding is being provided after eligible youth services lodged an expression of interest with their local Education and Training Board (ETB).

Eligibility related to cost pressures or if there were less than 2 Whole Time Equivalent workers associated with youth services funded through the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme:

“The aim of this funding is to support smaller community-based youth services that have been confronted with significant cost increases and pressures over the course of the last year. 

So, in that sense, while the funding is modest it is at the same time vitally important.

I am a passionate supporter of local community services and so I have no hesitation in welcoming the allocations announced today.

Given the positive impact these services can have not just for young people but for the entire community it is important that we work to secure locally available and fully resourced services. 

That is something I remain fully committed to achieving for the young people of Offaly and Laois,” concluded Deputy Nolan.

Minister Pippa Hackett today welcomed additional funding of €7,000 for YWI Portlaoise youth service as part of a funding announcement today by Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., for 65 youth services nationally. 

Minister Hackett said “Youth organisations across the Midlands are doing such an important job under difficult conditions. I welcome this additional funding of €7,000 for YWI Portlaoise as a long term investment in this youth service”.

As part of a €5 million package under Budget 2021, Minister O’Gorman secured funding for the first UBU Resilience and Effectiveness Initiative.

Eligible youth services lodged an expression of interest with their local Education and Training Board (ETB) and successful services will see an increase in their base funding going forward. Eligibility related to cost pressures or if there were less than 2 Whole Time Equivalent workers associated with youth services funded through the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme.

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