Young people in Laois “are being treated totally and completely unfairly,” Laois County Council has heard.
In terms of youth funding, the Laois Offaly Educate Together Board (LOETB) is the lowest funded ETB across the entire country in 2021.
Ireland has a total of 16 ETB’s with Laois/Offaly well adrift when it comes to funding for young people (aged 10 to 24 years old).
This is despite every metric indicating Laois should be towards the very top of the list.
Representatives from the LOETB made the revelation while speaking at the February meeting of the County Council, drawing outrage from the Councillors present.
Ailbhe Enright-Moony, Youth Services Resource Worker with LOETB presented a series of figures to show the extent of the problem.
In 2023, the LOETB received €574,125.26 in funding for the 36,275 people across the two counties aged between 10 and 24 years old. This equated to just €15.82 per young person.
Dublin City received by far the highest funding in the country – €162.57 per young person.
“Research from the National Youth Council of Ireland shows that for every €1 of investment in youth work generates a €2.20 return to the Irish economy,” Ms Enright-Moony said.
But Laois/Offaly also falls well behind comparable ETBs and even ETBs with lower youth populations.
Kilkenny/Carlow has less than 33,000 young people, yet received over one million euro – almost double that of Laois/Offaly.
Longford/Westmeath has less than 28,500 young people, yet received €75,000 more than Laois/Offaly.
Ms Linda Tynan, Director of Schools at the LOETB said “there is absolutely no reason why we have close to the highest youth population in the country – and the statistics show we are growing – and yet we are at the bottom of this list.
“€574,000 for youth is a drop in the ocean, and we know that if we don’t spend money on young people today we’re going to spend it on health and justice in the future.”
Ms Tynan confirmed that the LOETB has written to Roderic O’Gorman TD, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to address this problem.
Mr Joe Thompson, Youth Officer at LOETB explained the needs of young people and the importance of providing them with supports.
“Young people are telling that their number one concern is mental health, in particular anxieties about the future,” Mr Thompson said.
“They are looking for youth-focused spaces where they can hang out and be together; access to transport; and activities within their communities outside of sport.
“Those who work with young people want youth facilities; educational supports; parental supports; transport; and networking.”
Sinn Féin Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley, Chair of the Laois Youth Committee said the LOETB Youth Department have been “operating on a shoestring.”
Cllr Dwane Stanley called for Laois County Council to join the LOETB is also sending a letter to Minister O’Gorman, as well as corresponding with Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, and Táiniste, Mícheál Martin.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Padraig Fleming, who is also on the Youth Committee, echoed the sentiments of Cllr Dwane Stanley, calling the underfunding situation “a disgrace.”
Cllr Fleming said there would be “phenomenal benefits” seen right around the county if the Government increased the funding for Laois.
Fellow Fianna Fáil Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald proposed Laois County Council should organise a deputation to meet with Minister O’Gorman about the issue, which was seconded by Independent Cllr Aisling Moran.
Several Cllrs, including Cllr Moran and Fine Gael Cllrs Barry Walsh and PJ Kelly, spoke about being the parents of young people, with each giving the LOETB their backing on the matter.
SEE ALSO – In Pictures: Farmers protest at Laois County Council over ‘lack of funding’ and ‘over-regulation’
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