YMCA Dublin

Lobbying Organisation YMCA Dublin

Date published 19 May, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Children and Youth Affairs

Period 1 Jan, 2026 to 30 Apr, 2026

Specific Details Seeking changes to State's approach to childcare, youth & community service provision

Intended results To demonstrate the benefits of our Community Hub model in order to seek changes to State's policy on and/or secure funding for service provision for children and young people in under-served communities

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Stuart Buchanan

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

Single email to Minister for Education & Youth to outline YMCA Dublin's Community Hub model and invite her to officially open the new YMCA Community Hub in Parkside (north Dublin).

Meeting (1)

Single meeting with Minister for Childcare, Disability & Equality, Norma Foley TD to outline Community Hub model & development plans, discuss the State's approach to ELC provision for children & families in under-served communities, particularly the State Led ELC Capital Programme.

Email (1)

Follow up email to Minister for Children, Disability & Equality, Norma Foley TD regarding the State's approach to ELC provision for children & families in under-served communities, and in particular the State Led ELC Capital Programme.

Email (2-5)

Follow up emails to Aidan Farrelly TD to invite to visit local Community Hub and discuss the State's policy on ELC service provision in under-served communities as per Social Democrat's Childcare & Early Years policy.

Email (2-5)

Follow up emails to Clare Kerrane TD to invite to visit local Community Hub and to discuss the State's policy on ELC service provision in under-served and/or disadvantaged communities as per Sinn Fein's Childcare For All policy.

Email (2-5)

Follow up emails to Emer Currie TD to discuss the State's policy on ELC service provision in under-served and/or disadvantaged communities as per Programme For Government and Fine Gael's Childcare For All policy, and request for meeting to discuss further.

Meeting (1)

Follow up meeting with Emer Currie TD to discuss the State's policy on ELC service provision in under-served and/or disadvantaged communities as per Programme For Government and Fine Gael's Childcare For All policy, and to outline plans for Community Hub development in Dublin West constituency

Meeting (1)

Follow up meeting with Assistant Secretary Canavan & other officials to refresh on Community Hub model, share learning on expansion into new communities, and discuss the State's policy on service provision for children, young people & families in under-served communities

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Hildegarde Naughton Minister of State (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Aidan Farrelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Claire Kerrane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Emer Currie TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Elizabeth Canavan Assistant Secretary (Department of the Taoiseach)