Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee Announces Funding for Ten New UBU Services to Support Young People
- Published on: 27 August 2025
- Last updated on: 27 August 2025
The Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee TD, has today announced the locations of ten new UBU Your Place Your Space services following the allocation of an additional €1.2 million in Budget 2025.
Once established, the new services will provide targeted, youth worker-led supports for up to 1,000 young people, ensuring help is delivered directly to the areas where it is most needed.
Minister McEntee said:
“Young people deserve the right supports and opportunities to reach their potential, no matter where they live. The UBU Your Place Your Space scheme has already made a real difference to communities across the country, and I am delighted that, with this additional investment, we can now expand its reach to more young people who need it most.
“This investment is about supporting communities, families, and above all, our young people. By expanding UBU services, we are ensuring that more young people —particularly those who are vulnerable or at risk – have safe spaces, dedicated youth workers, and the supports they need to thrive.”
The UBU Your Place Your Space scheme is the Department’s targeted youth funding programme, aimed at young people aged 10–24 years who are marginalised, vulnerable, or at risk of not flourishing. It is the government's largest youth funding scheme reaching approximately 68,000 young people. Currently, the scheme provides funding to 249 targeted youth services across 16 education and training boards (ETBs), which oversee the delivery of funding and supports in their local areas.
UBU services provide safe spaces for young people in their local communities to enable them to overcome adverse circumstances and achieve their full potential by improving their personal and social development outcomes. Following a recent call for submissions from ETBs, ten ETBs have been awarded funding for new UBU services:
- Cavan Monaghan ETB
- Donegal ETB
- Kerry ETB
- Kildare Wicklow ETB
- Kilkenny Carlow ETB
- Laois Offaly ETB
- Longford Westmeath ETB
- Louth Meath ETB
- Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB
- Tipperary ETB
The ETBs awarded funding will shortly issue calls for youth organisations to apply to establish and deliver these new services in the selected areas.