Youthreach Centres

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For Oral Answer on : 18/01/2024
Question Number(s): 119 Question Reference(s): 2033/24
Department: Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education; Research; Innovation and Science the current number of Youthreach centres; the number of students attending Youthreach centres, by county; if his Department has carried out any studies to ascertain areas in the country not served by Youthreach; if so, the details of same; his plans, if any, to open further Youthreach centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

The Youthreach Programme aims to provide early school leavers with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to participate fully in society and progress to further education, training and employment.  

There are 104 Youthreach Centres operated by the Education and Training Boards nationwide.  Over 4,600 learners attended these Centres in 2013 and the attached table details these Centres along with their unique learner enrolments in 2023.    The Youthreach Programme is also offered by the 31 Community Training Centres grant aided by the ETBs, with almost 2,300 learners attending CTCs in 2023.

The ESRI’s Evaluation of the National Youthreach Programmes in 2019 found that the Youthreach programme had significant value in re-engaging a vulnerable group of young people with learning, providing courses and approaches tailored to their needs and embedding education and training provision within a broader network of supports. It found clear and distinct value in the provision provided in both the Youthreach centre and CTC contexts.

With regard to the geographical location of Youthreach centres, the evaluation found significant geographical variability in the location of centres largely reflecting legacy issues rather than current need.  Coupled with the recent decline in participation levels, the evaluation identified the need for an ongoing review of the allocation of programme places across and within ETB areas to ensure the optimal use of resources, noting that consolidation might be feasible in some local areas with multiple centres while acknowledging the need to balance this against the reluctance of many vulnerable young people to access provision outside their local comfort zone and the poorer outcomes found for larger centres.

In its response to the evaluation, SOLAS supported the continued provision in both Youthreach centres and CTC settings.  It acknowledged the need for more coordinated and effective planning across all youth education and training at ETB level and proposed that ETBs consider appropriate youth education and training management arrangements and plans to improve coordination and collaboration across Youthreach centres and CTCs within their regions.

The National FET Strategy, Future FET, Transforming Learning 2020-2024 continues to apply the reports recommendations. Work is continuing between SOLAS and the ETBs to drive forward the vision outlined together including promoting Youthreach provisions.

Youthreach Centres Unique Learner Enrolments 2023
ETB	Centre	Enrolments Unique Learners
Cavan and Monaghan ETB	Carrickmacross Youthreach	23
Cavan and Monaghan ETB	Castleblayney Youthreach	31
Cavan and Monaghan ETB	Cavan Youthreach	76
Cavan and Monaghan ETB	Cootehill Youthreach	20
Cavan and Monaghan ETB	Kingscourt Youthreach	43
Cavan and Monaghan ETB	Monaghan Youthreach	25
City of Dublin ETB	Ballyfermot Youthreach	64
City of Dublin ETB	Ballymun Youthreach	84
City of Dublin ETB	Cabra Youthreach	36
City of Dublin ETB	Coolock Youthreach	43
City of Dublin ETB	Crumlin Youthreach	82
City of Dublin ETB	Harmonstown Youthreach	66
City of Dublin ETB	North Great George’s Street Youthreach	81
City of Dublin ETB	Pleasant Street Youthreach	131
City of Dublin ETB	Transition Centre	104
Cork ETB	Ballincollig Youthreach	47
Cork ETB	Bandon Youth Reach	52
Cork ETB	Bantry Youth Reach	55
Cork ETB	Cork City Learning Support	108
Cork ETB	Dean Street Education Centre	39
Cork ETB	Fermoy Youth Reach	33
Cork ETB	Knocknaheeny Youth Reach	29
Cork ETB	Macroom Youthreach	25
Cork ETB	Mahon Youthreach	33
Cork ETB	Mallow Youthreach	41
Cork ETB	The Glen Youthreach	40
Cork ETB	Youghal Youthreach	40
Donegal ETB	Centre for Education Lifford	28
Donegal ETB	FET Centre Ballyshannon	19
Donegal ETB	FET Centre Gortahork	26
Donegal ETB	Letterkenny Centre for Education (Youthreach)	60
Donegal ETB	Youthreach Buncrana	55
Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB	Balbriggan Youthreach	44
Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB	Blanchardstown Youthreach	52
Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB	Clondalkin Youthreach	52
Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB	Lucan Youthreach	31
Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB	Priory Youthreach	48
Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB	Rathfarnham Youthreach	6
Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB	Rush Youthreach	41
Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB	Sallynoggin Youthreach	22
Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB	Swords Youthreach	41
Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB	Tallaght Youthreach	72
Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB	Youth, Education and Support Centre	28
Galway and Roscommon ETB	YR Galway City (Liosbán)	56
Galway and Roscommon ETB	Youthreach Ballaghaderreen	61
Galway and Roscommon ETB	Youthreach Ballinasloe	21
Galway and Roscommon ETB	Youthreach Letterfrack	34
Galway and Roscommon ETB	Youthreach Portumna	35
Galway and Roscommon ETB	Youthreach Roscommon	39
Galway and Roscommon ETB	Youthreach Tuam	37
Kerry ETB	Killarney Youthreach	43
Kerry ETB	Listowel Youthreach	39
Kerry ETB	Tralee Youthreach	43
Kerry ETB	Youthreach (Tralee) LC Applied	38
Kildare and Wicklow ETB	Arklow Youthreach	51
Kildare and Wicklow ETB	Athy Youthreach	40
Kildare and Wicklow ETB	Bray and North Wicklow Youthreach	46
Kildare and Wicklow ETB	Leixlip Youthreach	31
Kildare and Wicklow ETB	Naas Youthreach	30
Kildare and Wicklow ETB	West Wicklow Youthreach	40
Kildare and Wicklow ETB	Wicklow Youthreach	28
Kilkenny and Carlow ETB	Youthreach Carlow	43
Kilkenny and Carlow ETB	Youthreach Kilkenny	41
Laois and Offaly ETB	Banagher FET Centre	45
Laois and Offaly ETB	Clara FET Centre	24
Laois and Offaly ETB	Edenderry FET Centre	37
Laois and Offaly ETB	Mountmellick FET Centre	37
Laois and Offaly ETB	Portlaoise FET Centre – Youthreach	33
Limerick Clare ETB	College of FET, Ennis Campus	63
Limerick Clare ETB	College of FET, Hospital Campus	64
Limerick Clare ETB	College of FET, Kilmallock Road Campus	39
Limerick Clare ETB	College of FET, Kilrush Campus	32
Limerick Clare ETB	College of FET, O’Connell Avenue Campus	93
Limerick Clare ETB	College of FET, Scariff Campus	21
Limerick Clare ETB	College of FET, Shanagolden Campus	32
Limerick Clare ETB	College of FET, Watch House Cross Campus	32
Longford and Westmeath ETB	Ballymahon Youthreach	43
Longford and Westmeath ETB	Delvin Youthreach	27
Longford and Westmeath ETB	Kilbeggan Youthreach	20
Longford and Westmeath ETB	Youthreach Longford	37
Louth and Meath ETB	Youthreach Ardee	22
Louth and Meath ETB	Youthreach Ashbourne	36
Louth and Meath ETB	Youthreach Drogheda	56
Louth and Meath ETB	Youthreach Dundalk	36
Louth and Meath ETB	Youthreach Kells	39
Louth and Meath ETB	Youthreach Laytown	42
Louth and Meath ETB	Youthreach Navan Hi Way	79
Louth and Meath ETB	Youthreach Trim	40
Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB	Leitrim Youthreach	26
Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB	Youthreach, Ballina	25
Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB	Youthreach, Ballinrobe	59
Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB	Youthreach, Kiltimagh	35
Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB	Youthreach, Sligo	53
Tipperary ETB	Youthreach Cappawhite	37
Tipperary ETB	Youthreach Roscrea	34
Tipperary ETB	Youthreach Templemore	37
Waterford and Wexford ETB	Youthreach Dungarvan	38
Waterford and Wexford ETB	Youthreach Enniscorthy	59
Waterford and Wexford ETB	Youthreach Gorey	79
Waterford and Wexford ETB	Youthreach New Ross	43
Waterford and Wexford ETB	Youthreach Subla	39
Waterford and Wexford ETB	Youthreach Tramore	33
Waterford and Wexford ETB	Youthreach Waterford	86
Waterford and Wexford ETB	Youthreach Wexford	46
	Total	4,630