Mayo TD hears from young people on SpunOut’s Budget 2027 priorities
SpunOut, Ireland’s youth information and support platform, launched its pre-budget submission ‘What Young People Need to Thrive’ ahead of Budget 2027. SpunOut is calling on the Government to use Budget 2027 to address the interconnected challenges affecting young people's wellbeing, including mental health supports, barriers to participation and connection, and the rising cost of living.
The organisation launched its pre-Budget submission at a lobby day in Buswells Hotel, Dublin, where Fine Gael TD Keira Keogh attended to hear directly from Spunout CEO, Sinead Keane and young people about the challenges they face and the changes they want to see in Budget 2027. Speaking ahead of the event, Spunout action panel member Isobel Solan said: “We know that mental health doesn't exist in isolation. The pressures of finding affordable housing, paying for education, managing day-to-day costs and feeling connected to our communities all affect our wellbeing.”
SpunOut is calling for an additional €250 million in national mental health funding to continue the pathway towards allocating 10% of the health budget to mental health by 2030. This investment would strengthen access to timely mental health care while also supporting digital mental health services that many young people turn to as a first point of contact for information, signposting and support.
Alongside investment in mental health, SpunOut is calling for increased investment in youth work and youth infrastructure. Echoing the National Youth Council of Ireland's Pre-Budget recommendations, the organisation is supporting an additional €27.3 million for the youth sector and €75 million for the Young People's Space, Facilities and Services Fund, which could support the development of one-stop-shop Youth Hubs where young people can access information, services and supports within their communities.
SpunOut is also urging policymakers to recognise that young people's wellbeing is shaped by a number of areas that the Government could take action on. Factors such as community spaces for young people, affordable housing, accessible education and financial security all play a critical role in allowing young people to thrive.
CEO of SpunOut and Westport native Sinead Keane commented: "Young people are navigating multiple pressures at once. While continued investment in mental health services remains essential, wellbeing is also influenced by whether a young person can afford education, secure housing, access supports, and stay connected to community, opportunity and support.”
The CEO added: “We see the issues and the barriers facing young people in real time. Our Navigator tool has supported young people engage with mental health supports and resources over 54,000 times in the past year, and our 24/7 Text About It service has engaged in over 300,000 conversations since its inception in 2020. “The demand we see across our services tells us that mental health remains one of the most pressing issues facing young people today. Young people are seeking support for anxiety, stress, loneliness, suicidal ideation, accessing counselling and other mental health challenges, often alongside concerns about housing, education and the rising cost of living. These pressures are deeply interconnected. If we want to improve mental health outcomes, Budget 2027 must invest in mental health supports, but also in creating better conditions that support young people's wellbeing”.