Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department officials and I regularly meet with representatives of the youth sector, including young people, youth service providers and the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) who administer a number of the key funding schemes on behalf of my Department.

The national youth representative network, made up of Comhairle na nÓg, Dáil na nÓg and the National Youth Assembly, also provides opportunities for my Department regularly to engage with young people throughout the country, including those from Co. Kildare.

With regard to meetings with youth sector representatives in Kildare, my officials have recently met with the youth service director and youth officers of Kildare and Wicklow ETB, as part of a series of bilateral meetings with each ETB. These meetings have given my officials the opportunity to explore the key issues of concern with each ETB.

My officials are in regular contact with Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), the representative body for all of the ETBs. ETBI acts a conduit for information between the ETB youth divisions and my Department, providing advice and guidance to ETBs on my Department's funding schemes, and updating my officials with the issues of concern of the ETBs.

My officials also maintain regular contact with the 30 national youth organisations funded under the Youth Service Grant Scheme as well as with Gaisce, the President's Award. This includes the National Youth Organisations Meeting which I attend twice a year to hear directly from the sector. The next meeting takes place later this month. These organisations provide volunteer-led youth services on a national basis, including to the young people of Kildare.

Officials from my Department meet with various youth organisations on an individual basis when the need arises.