Investment in young people and youth work sought in budget
81 Longford–Westmeath constituents sign open letter calling for investment in young people and youth work in Budget 2026
Dear Minister Peter Burke, Deputy Micheál Carrigy, Deputy Sorca Clarke, Minister Kevin Moran, Minister Robert Troy,
We are 81 of your constituents in Longford Westmeath urging you to support the call for an increased investment of €21.3m in youth work in Budget 2026.
You might think only young people care about youth work, but we are voters across all ages who believe in the value of youth work to our community. Nationally, this letter has been signed by:
• 461 people aged 18-24
• 327 people aged 25-34
• 523 people aged 35-44
• 945 people aged 45-54
• 725 people aged 55-64
• 644 people aged 65+
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.
That’s why we have added our names to this localised version of the National Youth Council of Ireland’s All Ages for Youth Work campaign, calling for increased investment of €21.3m in Budget 2026 to protect existing services, expand access, and fund safe, well-equipped spaces.
As your constituents, we are asking you to support this call publicly, by raising this issue in the Dáil and with Minister McEntee as soon as possible, to ensure that we have the best chance at securing investment for youth work locally.
With the right support, we can meet young people’s needs in Longford–Westmeath today and build stronger communities across Ireland for us all.
Signed, your constituents:
Amelia Power
Angela Lennon
Anna Dunne
Anne Campbell
Anne Molloy
Annette Clarke
Ber Fagan
Bernadette Mc Loughlin
Bernie Stakem
Caoimhe Croasdell
Carrie Lynch
Catherine Cassidy
Cathy Lynch
Charlie Mahon
Clare Sweeney
Craig French
David Byrne
Dawn Gorman
Deborah Swaris
Deirdre Mc -Kenna
Dragan Soric
Edel Kane
Edwina Hynes
Elizabeth Dreyer
Emma Lyne
Erin Shepherd
Fióna Ní Floinn
Fiona O'Shea
Frank Quinn
Grainne Gillespie
Grainne Roche
Hanan Kazeem
Hayleigh Keogh
Imelda Cully
Jacqueline Costello
Jacqui Clynes Riordan
Jennie Butler
Jenny Byrne
Joan O'Connor
Joanna Pearman
Karen Maguire
Keith Nolan
Keith Simpson
Lestin Gossy
Liam Maguire
Linda-Jo Quinn
Maggie Mc Carthy
Majella Rooney
Margaret Mc Gahern
Marianne O'Shea
Marie Bernadette Conroy
Marie Weldon
Mary Busu
Mary Connolly
Mary Daly
Mary Lennon
Matylda Wijas
Maura Cawley
Maureen Brady
Mez Len
Micheal Wall
Michelle Flynn
Niamh Cummins
Nicki Lynch Dalton
Patricia Phelan
Rachael Murphy
Rachel Dé Búrca
Rachel Eighan
Roisin Clarke
Sarah Jermyn
Sigrid O'Meara
Tara Curran
Tara Hanley
Teresa Joyce
Teresa Lynch
Terry Baker
Theresa Dermody
Tina Murphy
Tony Murray
Younis Fakhfakh