Minister Naughton Announces Major Funding Boost for Youth Organisations on Youth Night

Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton has approved the allocation of €338,681 under the Youth Capital Funding Scheme 2025 to support 26 national youth organisations.

The scheme provides grants for ICT upgrades, minor works to improve accessibility, and furnishings to create inclusive youth spaces, including spaces designed to welcome neurodivergent young people.

Announcing the funding ahead of Youth Night, Minister Naughton said:

Grants under the Youth Capital Funding Scheme 2025 ranged from €1,000 to €35,000, with ceilings based on each organisation’s core Youth Services Grant Scheme funding. These limits were designed to ensure broad access, particularly for smaller organisations.

The total approved funding is €338,681. A further €11,319 will support capital costs for the establishment of 10 new UBU youth work projects announced earlier this year, bringing their total capital allocation to €161,319.

All applications were assessed as eligible, covering ICT upgrades, accessibility improvements, upgrades to outdoor spaces, essential renovation works and inclusive youth spaces.

Much of the funding is being used by youth organisations to support their national operations through improved ICT. Other uses of the grant include:

In Dublin, two organisations, the Catholic Guides of Ireland and ECO-UNESCO, will use the funding to make their respective offices more accessible and welcoming for young people.

In Mayo, Foróige will utilise its funding to complete essential works to ensure a residential centre remains a secure and welcoming environment for young people, volunteers and staff of the various youth clubs and projects that use it.

In Wicklow, the Irish Girl Guides will develop outdoor activity infrastructure at their national memorial cottage to improve access to outdoor education for all youth members including individuals with disabilities.

In Cork, YMCA’s funding will be put towards restoring a heritage building, which is currently used for a variety of purposes, including a daily meal programme for vulnerable and disadvantaged youth, improving security and making the space more welcoming.

Oíche na hÓige/Youth Night 2025 is taking place today, Friday, 21 November.

Over 400 youth clubs and services nationwide are hosting a wide range of Oíche na hÓige events as a celebration and as a way of letting the wider community know what their club or service means to them.

On Oíche na hÓige youth clubs and services across Ireland will open their doors to the community, to celebrate members of youth clubs and groups, and their youth workers and volunteers, and to build awareness of youth work in their communities – showcasing the value that youth work brings to young people and the wider community.

Oíche na hÓige is an initiative of the department delivered in partnership with the education and training boards, the National Youth Council of Ireland and the youth work sector.

Find out more about what’s going on in your area. Details of events are listed at: Find your local Youth Night event