I thank Deputy Neville for raising this issue and offering me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy Foley. Ryevale House in County Kildare is an International Protection Accommodation Service, IPAS, accommodation centre, contracted to the Department since 2023. It provides shelter to approximately 90 women who are applying for international protection. The basis for applying for international protection, also known as asylum or refugee status, is fleeing war or persecution in one's home country. As international protection applicants, people are entitled to shelter and support under both Irish and EU law. Ireland has seen a sharp increase in the number of people applying for international protection in recent years. The Department provides accommodation to more than 33,000 people today. Since 2021, when we provided 7,000 places, this demand-led system has grown by more than 400%. Pressure on accommodation availability of all types is extremely high. The Department has extended all teams to try to meet this always-growing demand. Yet, despite this effort, more than 3,500 people are without an offer of accommodation since 2023. The international protection procurement service, IPPS, within the Department is tasked with providing sufficient capacity to meet the demand for accommodation services for international protection applicants, a legal requirement under the recast reception conditions directive. The Department understands there is ongoing engagement between the provider, the local authority, An Bord Pleanála and the courts about planning matters at this property. It is important to note that regulatory matters related to planning are between the local authority and the accommodation service provider. The Department understands that the decision on planning permission for this property is before the courts and it is not appropriate for the Department to comment further on the matter at this time. If there are matters arising from the court decision on this case that require action on the part of the Department, we will progress these without delay. While demand continues to outweigh supply for accommodation services for people seeking international protection and more than 3,500 people are without an offer of accommodation, Ryevale House will continue to accommodate approximately 90 adult females who are international protection applicants until a court has ruled on those matters. I trust this information is helpful.

Sentiment score: 0.15

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I am taking this matter, as I said, on behalf of the Minister for children, disability and equality, Deputy Foley. The points the Deputy raised will be brought to the attention of the Minister. I reiterate the Department understands there is ongoing engagement between the provider, the local authority and An Bord Pleanála in the courts in relation to planning matters at this property. As the Deputy noted, matters related to planning are between the local authority and the accommodation service provider. The Department understands the decision about the planning issue for this property is before the courts and it is not appropriate for the Department to comment further on the matter at this time. If there are any matters arising from the court decision on this case that require action on the part of the Department, it will progress those without delay. Deputy Neville is a TD for the constituency and obviously the particular points he has raised will be brought to the attention of the Minister. As I said, if there are any matters arising from the court decision that require action on the part of the Department it will progress those without delay. While demand for accommodation services for people seeking international protection continues to outweigh supply, with over 3,300 persons without an offer of accommodation, Ryevale House will continue to accommodate approximately 90 adults who are international protection applicants until the court has ruled on these matters.

Sentiment score: 0.23

I thank Deputy Cummins for raising this important issue and for offering me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. I can see the Deputy's commitment to the area. She has lived it and breathed it so I can see how important it is to her on both a political and personal level. The Minister is committed to supporting the delivery and development of youth work services and opportunities for young people throughout the country. This year, almost €85 million in funding has been allocated for youth services and capital expenditure, which represents an increase in funding of €7 million, or almost 9% on the 2024 budget. Over the period from 2021 to 2025, the level of current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes will have increased by more than 34%. In September 2024, the then Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, launched Opportunities for Youth: the National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services. This strategy aims to provide a more strategic, data-driven and joined-up approach to the delivery of youth work and related services in Ireland. Informed by wide-ranging consultation with young people, the youth sector, education and training boards and other key stakeholders, the strategy identifies both strategic objectives and individual actions to guide the delivery and development of youth work services. Challenges to the youth work workforce emerged strongly as a key theme across the consultations. In response to the consultations with youth workers, action 7 of Opportunities for Youth aims to produce a workforce development strategy this year. This strategy will include consideration of training needs and the requirement for high-quality, accessible and inclusive youth work services and opportunities. To date, a large-scale workforce survey in the sector has been compiled, gathering the views of almost 1,000 individuals, including youth workers and youth work managers. When the Department’s analysis of the responses is complete, we will have a clearer picture of the range, level and type of qualification held by or being undertaken by youth workers and managers. Furthermore, this week a survey will issue to employers in national youth organisations and independent youth services in the sector. This will provide a more complete picture of the workforce in the sector and enable comparative analysis to be undertaken. The data and information gathering and analysis is a critical step to informing the Department’s approach to actions regarding the education and training of youth workers in the workforce development strategy. The broad aim of the workforce development strategy is to support youth workers and youth organisations in delivering a best-in-class service to young people in Ireland. The Deputy will know that many youth workers are already qualified in youth work or related fields. She gave us an indication of her own pathway into the area. Ultimately, this strategy will support those in the sector who wish to follow in this pathway. The Deputy made reference to an all-island approach. Currently, there are five higher education institutions on the island of Ireland offering undergraduate or postgraduate qualifications in youth work. The North South Education and Training Standards committee for youth work, NSETS, is responsible for the professional endorsement of undergraduate and postgraduate youth work education programmes in higher education institutions on the island of Ireland. NSETS is funded and supported by the Minister, Deputy Foley’s Department.

Sentiment score: 0.24

I again thank Deputy Cummins for raising this important matter today. I note the points she made and her acknowledgement of the survey and the benefits it will bring. I note her point on a committee for young people. That matter will be brought to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Foley. While providing adequate funding of youth work and youth services is essential, it is also paramount that youth workers themselves are supported with access to development pathways. Provision of high quality, inclusive youth work services is a key goal of Opportunities for Youth: the National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services. As with many other sectors, there are challenges around recruitment and retention. Making the sector attractive and meaningful to work in is essential in achieving a sustainable model of youth work services and ensuring they are accessible to all young people. To address this, action 7 of Opportunities for Youth aims to produce a workforce development strategy in respect of the youth work sectors to address and support the needs of youth workers. Action 14 of Opportunities for Youth aims to implement an updated sector-wide national quality standards framework. Youth work and qualified, well-supported and trained youth workers contribute significantly to the quality of the services provided in youth services throughout the country. The Minister, Deputy Foley, and her Department are confident that this strategic approach to supporting youth work and youth workers will build on the driven, committed and compassionate work currently being delivered by youth work services across Ireland.

Sentiment score: 0.40