Dr. Patrick J. Burke:

I thank members for the opportunity to address them today on behalf of Youth Work Ireland. We welcome the publication of the national youth work strategy 2024–2028 and the recognition it gives to the vital role youth work plays in the lives of young people across the country. The successful implementation of the strategy will depend fundamentally on political will. That political will must be demonstrated not only in words but in the level of funding allocated to ensure the strategy’s ambitions are realised. Without adequate and sustained funding, the strategy risks becoming aspirational rather than actionable. The core costs and infrastructure that underpin youth work provision must be robustly supported. Youth services are not immune to the pressures of inflation or to the increasing demands of regulatory compliance function. These realities must be reflected in funding models. Moreover, multi-annual funding is essential to enable long-term planning, the recruitment and retention of skilled staff, and the development of meaningful, sustained relationships with young people.

We in Youth Work Ireland believe it is time to establish youth work as a social right in Ireland. Every young person should have access to support and services within their own community. This is not a luxury; it is a necessity for equity, inclusion, and the holistic development of our young citizens. We are also concerned that the strategy is silent on the critical role of providing high-quality, reliable information to young people. In an era marked by misinformation and disinformation, the provision of trusted, youth-friendly information is more important than ever. This work must be recognised and resourced adequately.

Looking beyond the current strategy, we must be ambitious for our young people. Youth Work Ireland is proud to lead a national campaign advocating for the right of every young person to access a youth service or support in their own community. We call for a national strategy for the provision of quality youth spaces, ensuring that youth work is delivered in environments that are safe, welcoming, and purpose-built. We urge the committee to support the recognition of youth work as a core component of the education and development system in Ireland. While we understand that different levels of funding are required, the youth sector must be given parity of esteem with the formal education system, acknowledging its unique contribution to personal, social, and civic development of young people. I thank members for their attention and continued support for young people and for youth work in Ireland.