Advocacy
On an annual basis our priorities are determined by the Board of NYCI. Our current three priority policy areas are youth work, social inclusion and active citizenship.
Browse our priorities & policies:
NYCI advocates on issues which impact on young people, on our member organisations and on the youth work sector.
We also use the collective experience of our member organisations to advocate on and seek to influence policy which impacts on the lives of young people.
Our policy and advocacy priorities are guided by our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan.
It’s now easy to register to vote!
The electoral registration process has changed. You can now register to vote, online, at any time.
Local Champions
Our Local Champions initiative aims to support our national campaign to increase investment in youth work funding – Youth Work Changes Lives. We are recruiting young people who have benefited from youth work and who will advocate in their communities to ensure youth work funding is firmly placed on the political agenda.
State of our young nation: A report into the lives of Irish 18-29-year-olds
This report provides in-depth insights on the financial, social, and other substantial challenges young people face, alongside their views on opportunities ahead; from housing and mental health, to work and study, and considerations about staying or leaving Ireland.
RedC/NYCI – Youth Work Organisations Research
New research published, carried out by RED C on behalf of the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), shows a near universal belief among the public that youth work organisations provide important non-formal education for young people in communities.
Budget 2023 campaign
Add your voice and call on our Government to support young people in Budget 2023 – by investing €12 million in young people and youth work.
Youth Work Funding
Youth work is above all an educational and developmental process, based on young people’s active and voluntary participation and commitment. It is often defined as ‘non-formal education’.
Youth Employment
We have advocated for policies to support young people into quality work and measures to address youth unemployment for many years. The reduction in youth unemployment from an all-time high of 31.6% in February 2012 to 12% in Quarter 4, 2018 is very welcome.
Social Protection for Young Jobseekers
NYCI calls on Government to restore young people under 26 years of age on the lower rate of Jobseekers’ Allowance to be restored to the full adult rate of €198 per week (€203 from March 2019).
Youth Homelessness
NYCI as part of the Irish Coalition to End Youth Homelessness calls on Government to develop and implement measures to tackle youth homelessness. The number of young adults becoming homeless in Ireland has more than doubled in the last four years.
Active Citizenship
NYCI has promoted the active citizenship and democratic participation of young people for many years. We have advocated for a Vote at 16 since 2009, have engaged a number of campaigns and actions to support youth voter registration and turnout and called for Government to change the electoral system.
Legislative Process in Ireland
Apart from the European Union, the Oireachtas is the only institution in Ireland with power to make laws for the state. Most legislation is developed in the form of a Government Bill apart from Private Members Bills (which are presented by individual Oireachtas members or parties).
Advocacy & Research Publications
We publish research reports, policy papers and submissions on issues affecting young people and the youth work sector.