National Youth Council of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation National Youth Council of Ireland

Date published 19 Jan, 2024

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Children and Youth Affairs

Period 1 Sep, 2023 to 31 Dec, 2023

Specific Details Pre-Budget campaign 2024 for increased investment in youth work and young people

Intended results To secure increased investment of €9.4m in youth work, and just under €250m across public transport, housing and youth homelessness, culture and media, further and higher education and social protection, along revenue raising measures such as the abolition of sub-minima rates of the minimum wage for under-20s in Budget 2024 Extend of the Young Adult Travel card to 24-year-olds and make fare reductions for young people permanent (€5 million investment) Introduce a Culture and Media Card worth €200- to 18–24-year-olds to engage with cultural activities (€87.7 million investment) Reduce third level contribution charge by €1,000 and abolish apprenticeship charges (€91.77 million) Fully fund the National Youth Homelessness Strategy in Budget 2024 Address equality issues for young workers and young unemployed people by ending sub-minima rates of pay for under 20-year-olds Equalise rates of Jobseekers’ Allowance for under 25s and over 25s (€64.91 million investment)

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Paul Gordon, Grace McManus

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) Yes

Current or Former Designated Public Official(s)

Grace McManus (Former DPO) Councillor (Wicklow County Council)

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? Member organisations of the NYCI were asked to engage with local TDs in their communities to ask for their support in ensuring an increase in funding for the youth work sector of €9.4m. Online meetings, briefing notes and campaign materials were issued in support of this.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Letter All Oireachtas Members In September, a letter from our CEO Mary Cunningham, which asked for support for a €9.4m increase for youth work funding, and other Pre-Budget measures, was posted to all Oireachtas members in Leinster House, along with a hard copy of our pre-budget submission.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

Email from Director of Policy and Advocacy Paul Gordon, sent to Senator Lynn Ruane on 06/09 requesting support for NYCI pre-budget asks

Email (1)

Email from Director of Policy and Advocacy Paul Gordon, sent to Senator Erin McGreehan on 06/09 requesting support for NYCI pre-budget asks

Email (1)

Email from Director of Policy and Advocacy Paul Gordon, sent to Senator Mary Seery Kearney on 06/09 requesting support for NYCI pre-budget asks

Email (1)

Email from Director of Policy and Advocacy Paul Gordon, sent to Deputy Kathleen Funchion on 06/09 requesting support for NYCI pre-budget asks

Email (1)

Email from Director of Policy and Advocacy Paul Gordon, sent to Deputy Patrick Costello on 06/09 requesting support for NYCI pre-budget asks

Email (1)

Email from Director of Policy and Advocacy Paul Gordon, sent to Deputy John Brady on 06/09 requesting support for NYCI pre-budget asks.

Email (1)

Email send from CEO Mary Cunningham, co-signed by 36 member organisations, to Minister O'Gorman requesting support for NYCI's pre-budget ask

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Lynn Ruane Senator (Seanad)

Erin McGreehan Senator (Seanad)

Mary Seery Kearney Senator (Seanad)

Kathleen Funchion TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Patrick Costello TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Brady TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Roderic O'Gorman Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)