Budget 2025: Missed Opportunity for Young People, says NYCI
‘Bonanza budget for many, fails to deliver for young people and youth work’
Youth work funding falls short, no end to sub-minimum pay, and insufficient long-term solutions for transport and education
The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has expressed disappointment in Budget 2025, citing a lack of meaningful support for young people and the youth work sector. While some steps in the right direction were taken, the budget fails to address the pressing issues faced by young people in Ireland.
Disappointing support for youth work sector
“While Budget 2025 includes an overall allocation of €8.3 billion to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth (DCEDIY), the funding for youth work services is disappointing and falls short of what is critically needed to support Ireland’s growing youth population. The confirmed €7 million for the expansion of youth work services is less than half what young people and the sector had advocated for,” said Mary Cunningham, NYCI CEO.
“Frankly, €7 million is far from adequate to address the increasing demand on youth work services and clubs,” said Cunningham. “The €1.2 million allocated for only 10 new UBU youth services, for instance, is insufficient to meet the real and growing needs of young people, especially those grappling with issues such as homelessness and mental health challenges. Without the necessary resources, the new Youth Work Strategy risks not being implemented like its predecessor, and this budget may fall well short of tackling the urgent issues facing young people today.”
Sub-minimum pay overlooked
While Budget 2025 is set to increase the National Minimum Wage, NYCI is particularly disappointed that Budget 2025 fails to address sub-minimum pay rates for young people. Ending sub-minimum rates would have come at no cost to the exchequer, yet the government missed the opportunity to correct this unfair policy.
“Young people are valued members of the workforce, yet they continue to receive unequal pay for the same work. This budget overlooks a simple fix that would have made a real difference in the lives of young workers,” said Ms Cunningham.
Jobseekers for Young People left out of Social Protection Bonanza
Budget 2025 fails to address income adequacy for young people. With six in 18-29-year-olds citing rising costs as a top concern, failure to deal with lower rates of Jobseekers Allowance for under 25s is a missed opportunity. These punitive rates mean young people are not receiving an adequate income to survive with rising costs. Equalisation of Jobseekers Allowance in Budget 2025 would have been a positive measure to support some of those young people furthest behind with significant cost of living challenges.
Transport: a step forward, but not enough
NYCI welcomes the extension of the Young Adult Card until the end of 2025, but young people have made it clear that transport remains a major concern. While the extension is positive, NYCI echoes the calls for free public transport for young people as a long-term solution to ease the cost of living crisis.
“Transport costs are a significant burden on young people, particularly those in education and lower-paid jobs. We need to see more than temporary measures – young people need ongoing, sustainable support to ensure access to affordable transport,” said Ms Cunningham.
Education: one-off measures are not enough
NYCI acknowledges the €1,000 reduction in college fees and a similar one-off reduction for apprenticeships, but these are short-term solutions that do not address the deeper financial challenges faced by students. Research from the Higher Education Authority shows that 1 in 3 students are facing serious financial difficulties, and this budget offers little in the way of ongoing support.
“While we welcome the immediate reduction in fees, one-off measures are not enough to tackle the long-term financial burden on students. Sustainable, ongoing support is needed to make higher education truly accessible to all,” added Cunningham.
‘Holiday Hunger’ pilot project
NYCI welcomes the introduction of a pilot project to combat holiday hunger, which will ensure that no child goes hungry during school breaks. Community and youth work organisations will play a crucial role in delivering this initiative, providing support to children and families in need. Their established connections within communities make them essential partners in ensuring the success of this project.
“This is a positive step in addressing poverty among children and young people, and it’s encouraging to see this commitment from the government. We look forward to collaborating with youth and community organisations to ensure that this pilot makes a real difference,” said Ms Cunningham.
Conclusion: Budget 2025 Falls Short for Young People
Overall, Budget 2025 provides some steps forward, but it is far from the bold action needed to support young people in Ireland. The limited additional funding for youth work, failure to end sub-minimum pay, and lack of long-term solutions for transport and education costs leave much to be desired.
“Young people are facing major challenges – from the cost of living to access to education and fair pay – and this budget does not rise to the occasion. We urge the government to reconsider its priorities and provide the substantial support young people deserve,” concluded Ms Cunningham.