Youth Services
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-29
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Jen Cummins (SD), Dublin South-Central

I am delighted to hear that the Government values the work being done in Ballyfermot. If the Minister of State or the Minister ever gets an opportunity to visit, they should take it because the model there is fantastic. I spoke to the community garda in Ballyfermot who said that Ballyfermot Youth Service safeguards vulnerable young people. The role it plays in diverting young people from crime and anti-social behaviour cannot be overstated. We have heard a lot in the Dáil in the last week about the scourge of scramblers in this city and throughout the country. Places like youth services, where young people can be, can learn pro-social skills and can be involved in things they like, are absolutely transformational, not only for the young people themselves but also for their communities. Receiving a grant of €4,000 under the youth club grant scheme is fantastic, as is receiving €28,000 for the summer hot meals programme. In order to run the summer meals programme, the service needs all of the staff it currently has to deal with the 1,700 children who come through its doors. Losing three staff will mean fewer children will be fed in the summer months. As we know from the last few weeks, the hot school meals have been fantastic for young people. The delivery could be improved, and that is what we all want, but youth services being given that job during the summer is exactly what should happen. However, if the Ballyfermot service is down three staff, fewer young people will be able to engage in that programme.
I feel like I am at an auction. Can we go higher? Can the Department give more money? What can we do to make sure that this €150,000 goes back into this community?
The reality is youth services were cut drastically in austerity - really badly. They are inching their way back up but they are not back to the level they were before those cuts. Funding has certainly not been adjusted for inflation. On that basis, with this youth service asking for this pittance in comparison with the size of the budget we have, I ask the Minister to reconsider it and please visit so he can see how brilliant the work is.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-29/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:34+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-29