Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll Welcomes €1.2m Investment in Youth Volunteering Across Ireland

Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll Welcomes €1.2m Investment in Youth Volunteering Across Ireland

Fine Gael Councillor for Stillorgan, Eoin O’Driscoll, has welcomed today’s announcement by Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, of over €1.2 million in funding for 12 national youth organisations through the Volunteer Activation Fund.

The funding will support projects focused on volunteer recruitment, training and retention across the country — including initiatives in scouting, environmental action, youth arts, Irish-medium youth work, and services for young people with additional needs.

Welcoming the announcement, Cllr. O’Driscoll said:

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of youth work in our communities. In Stillorgan and across Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, I see every day the difference that dedicated volunteers make to the lives of young people — from sports clubs and scouts to arts groups and youth services. This investment sends a clear signal that the Government values that contribution and supports local communities.

“I’m particularly pleased to see funding going to organisations like Foróige, Youth Work Ireland, Belong To, and Young Irish Film Makers — all of which do important work engaging young people in meaningful, community-building activities. Expanding volunteer capacity across these organisations will have a real and lasting impact.

“Strong communities depend on strong youth services. Investing in the people who give their time to run them is one of the best things we can do.”

Among the organisations receiving funding are Foróige (€115,930), Youth Work Ireland (€110,378), Crosscare (€118,107), Scouting Ireland (€119,500), and Belong To (€55,171), as well as Ogras, Irish Girl Guides, Macra na Feirme, ECO-UNESCO, Young Irish Film Makers, Localise, and the National Federation of Arch Clubs.

Since its establishment in late 2024, the Volunteer Activation Fund has allocated over €2 million to support volunteer development and the growth of volunteer-led clubs nationwide.

ENDS