National Youth Council of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation National Youth Council of Ireland

Date published 21 Sep, 2023

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Children and Youth Affairs

Period 1 May, 2023 to 31 Aug, 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

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 (Currently employed as a 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 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

Meeting All Oireachtas Members NYCI members were directed to meet local TDs and Senators with a presence in their constituency.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (2-5)

Meetings to discuss investment in Youth work and NYCI's pre-budget submission for 2024 held with: Office of Deputy John Brady, online, 08/06/23 (incl. phone calls to clarify issues) Deputy Patrick Costello, Leinster House, 04/07/23 Senator Mary Seery Kearney, Leinster House, 10/07/23

Email (11-20)

Email request to Deputy Kathleen Funchion to host an AV Room presentation in Leinster House on investment in youth work (05/05/23) Email calling for support for NYCI's pre-budget submission sent to: Deputy John Lahart, 18/07/23 Senator Marie Sherlock, 18/08/23 5 e-mails to Jennifer Whitmore - 29/05-19.06. 1 e-mail to Seán Sherlock - 07.06.2023 7 e-mails to Patrick Costello - 13/06 - 22/06/2023 1 meeting request issued to John Lahart - 06/06/2023

Event / Reception (1)

Presentation to Ministers Paschal Donohoe, Michael McGrath and Eamon Ryan at National Economic dialogue regarding need for investment in youth work and young people 12/06/2023

Meeting (1)

Meeting of National Youth Organisations in Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Presentation on impact of cost-of-living on youth work organisations to Minister Roderic O'Gorman and officials, includng Colm O'Conaill (Asst. Sec.)

Letter (1)

Letter from Mary Cunningham CEO to Minister Roderic O'Gorman sharing NYCI's pre-budget submission, Vision for youth work and request to attend a conference in December. Sent 24/08/2023

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.

John Brady TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Patrick Costello TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mary Seery Kearney Senator (Seanad)

John Lahart TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Marie Sherlock Senator (Seanad)

Kathleen Funchion TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Colm O Conaill Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Mary Seery Kearney Senator (Seanad)

Jennifer Whitmore TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Sherlock TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael McGrath Minister (Department of Finance)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Eamon Ryan Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)

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