Hello John,
Thanks to our collective efforts, Budget 2026 brings another small step forward for young people - but it’s not enough.
The Government has announced an €8 million increase in funding for Youth Affairs. This is a higher increase than last year, and we welcome the recognition of youth work’s importance in the new Department, but it falls far short of what’s needed.
Youth organisations across Ireland are still under real pressure. They face rising costs, staff shortages, and growing demand for support. We know that young people need us, and we are ready to rise to the challenge. With an increase in funding we could reach more young people, protect essential services, and build stronger, safer communities across Ireland.
Right now we need to make sure the new funding reaches young people directly. We’ve already been in touch with TDs, seeking a breakdown of the allocation through Parliamentary Questions, to ensure any increases are felt in local youth services on the ground.
Stay involved
We’ll be in touch soon with ways to support our ongoing campaign to highlight the value of youth work.
If you'd like more information in the meantime, you can read our full statement ([link removed]) reacting to Budget 2026.
Thank you for standing with us. Together, we’ll keep campaigning to make sure every young person gets the support and opportunities they deserve.
Warm regards,
Mary
Mary Cunningham
CEO
National Youth Council of Ireland
P.S. Budget 2026 also failed to deliver fairness for young people on youth issues such as income supports and pay. You can find out what the changes mean and where gaps remain in our full analysis: Read our Budget 2026 Youth Issues ([link removed]) analysis.
============================================================
Copyright © 2025 National Youth Council of Ireland, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this message because you previously asked NYCI to subscribe you.
Our mailing address is:
National Youth Council of Ireland
3 Montague Street
Dublin 2, Dublin 2
Ireland
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
.
