117 Longford Westmeath constituents sign open letter calling for investment in young people and youth work in Budget 2024

OPEN LETTER

Dear Deputies Burke, Clarke, Flaherty, and Troy,

We are constituents from Westmeath and Longford who are calling on you to support young people in Budget 2024 by investing €9.4 million in young people and youth work.

It is a hard time for young people. Covid-19 impacted their mental health and social connections, and now, the cost of living crisis means many are struggling financially.

Youth work organisations say that deprivation among young people they work with is on the rise, and the need for youth services is growing dramatically as young people and their communities feel the effects of the cost of living crisis.

Youth workers are often a lifeline for young people, particularly for those who have the least.

The range of activities youth organisations provide support young people in their personal and social development, positive mental health, physical wellbeing, job skills and much more.

The rising cost of living is also placing a huge strain on youth work organisations themselves. A recent survey by the National Youth Council of Ireland revealed that nearly three in five organisations struggle to deliver vital youth work services because of inflation.

The government must provide the necessary resources for these organisations to meet the growing needs of young people in Westmeath and Longford, and to provide an Ireland where young people can live, grow, and flourish.

That is why we are supporting the National Youth Council of Ireland in calling on the government to invest an additional €9.4m in youth work services in Budget 2024, to provide more supports and activities for young people and meet the needs of our growing youth population.

The NYCI and its members across the country believe this increase is needed to help ensure the sustainability of the sector, and deal with current challenges facing many services.

We request that you act on this call and use whatever avenues available to you to ensure that we see a Budget 2024 that invests in our young people.

Your constituents,

Margaret Thompson

Sheila Patridge

Princess Olatunji

Janet McWeeney

Sinéad McWeeney

Marie McCauley

Amn Mccarthy

Geraldine Stewart

Joanna Pearman

Raimey O’Boyle

Vick Muhongo

Sarajane McNaboe

Helen Maguire

Bryan Lenehan

Trish Kennedy

Shena Kearney

Linda Greaney

Deborah Swaris

Seán Mulroy

Mary L K Monger

Roberta Horgan

Eric Ehigie

Paul Devine

Anne Browne

Margaret Baxter

Ann Smyth

Tina Reddy

Martina Quinn

Keith Nolan

Mark Noble

Lily Moore

Caroline Monks

Nicola Fagan

Helen Dolan

Helen Carty

Sharron Bushy

Micheal Wall

Verona Gray

Pamela Coy

Niamh Cox

Jane Flanagan Kenny

Gill Dawson Stanley

Angelica Magana-Arias

Vera Farrell Rock

Paddy O’Callaghan

Kerrie Ní Chasaide

Rita Craney Barr

Kara Richardson

Ed Bermingham

Jimmy Swarbrigg

Jurgita Stuckaite

Joan Mulvihill

Louise McCormack

Grainne Gillespie

Mairead O’Connor

Mary Mulligan

Miriam Macmsnus

Maria Flanagan

Younis Fakhfakh

Catriona Corcoran

Rose Wallace

Louise Tiernan

Sheila Rebollo

Emma O’Brien

Imelda O’Brien

Dorothy Obikoya

Aisling O Neill

Georgina McMahon

Catherine McEntee

Eileen McArdle

Dolores Ledwith

Grainne Kiernan

Mandy Kerroum

Kathleen Devaney

Lucia Chawana

Louise Buckley

Mary Barrett

Maureen Ahearne

Amamda Wilton

Ciara O’Hara

Londiwe Ndlovu

Tony Murray

Carmel Murphy

Martina Murphy

Mary Murphy

Fiona Molloy

Ursula Meehan

Carmel Mckeon

Mary Lennon

Adrian Larkin

Veronica Larkin

Irene Hislop

Marion Hannon

Rosie Greene

Carmel Gargan

Maryann Feehan

Miriam Ethell

Annette Cleary

Deirdre Clarke

Jennie Butler

Deirdre Bigley

Trevor Bannon

Petrena Aughey

Jackie Walsh

Evelin Varga

Huda Safaa

Elaine Reidy

Miriam Price

Anna Nolan

Michelle Nagle

Mariana Mirea

Pam Hogan

Britta Flynn

Deirdre Fagan

Patricia Dunne

Niamh Clery Hogg

Trish Daly