Scouting Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Scouting Ireland

Date published 20 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Children and Youth Affairs

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details Request for Support: Youth Work Funding in Budget 2026

Intended results The lobbying message aims to secure increased government funding for Scouting Ireland in Budget 2026. It highlights the organisation’s strong social impact through youth development and volunteerism, while noting that chronic underfunding limits access for thousands of young people. It calls for fairer state support, investment to reduce waiting lists, and stronger prioritisation of youth work.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Geraldine Smith

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?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

These communications were made by Geraldine Smith in her capacity as a volunteer Scout Leader with a local Scout Group in the relevant constituency. At a meeting with James Geoghegan on 2/9/25, she identified herself as a volunteer Scout Leader and, in her professional capacity, as a Provincial Support Officer with Scouting Ireland.

Email (6-10)

To advance the intended results, Geraldine Smith undertook the following targeted lobbying activities: 3 emails were sent to Ivana Bacik; 4 emails and one in-person meeting on 2/9/25 were conducted with James Geoghegan; and two emails were sent to Jim O’Callaghan.

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.

Ivana Bacik TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Geoghegan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jim O'Callaghan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Dermot Lacey Councillor (Dublin City Council)