Our All Ages for Youth Work open letter campaign, calling for increased investment in youth work in Budget26, is getting lots of support from all over the country. Thank you again for adding your name.
Another key action for us is to make sure the Minister for Education and Youth, Minister Helen McEntee, hears directly from people how important youth work is to them.
We’ve made it easy to send her office an email through the form below. Will you send the Minister a message now, and let her know that you want to see support for investment in youth work?
The message to the Minister:
Dear Minister McEntee,
I am contacting you today to urge you to support the call for an increased investment of €21.3m in youth work in Budget 2026. I am joining people of all ages as part of the National Youth Council of Ireland’s pre-budget campaign to make this plea to you.
Since taking on the role of Minister in the new Department of Education and Youth, you have been active in engaging with the youth work sector, showing your dedication to young people in Ireland today.
This first Budget in your new Ministry offers a unique opportunity to set the tone for your tenure, and the best way to demonstrate your commitment to youth work and young people is to ensure the youth work sector gets the investment it desperately needs.
As you know, youth work supports mental health, builds confidence and life skills, and creates safe offline spaces where young people are supported to grow and thrive.
Right now, youth services are under real pressure. The cost of living, rising demand, and years of underfunding are making it harder to keep services running. We must protect existing services, expand access, and fund safe, well-equipped spaces.
€21.3m is the evidence-based sectoral ask for youth work in Budget 2026, and I am taking the time to contact you about this to show you that you have widespread support to ensure this investment is delivered come budget day. Please keep me updated on any actions you take to make this a reality.
Thank you,
[Your name]