Budget 2027: Vital Community Services at Risk Without Funding Reforms, TDs Told

Presenting at the cross-party briefing, Dónall Geoghegan, Director of Policy and Advocacy at The Wheel, said: “The community and voluntary sector is not an optional extra, it is essential public infrastructure. In Ireland, the government funds charities and community organisations to deliver key public services, and to provide support and a voice for marginalised groups. But these organisations cannot continue to subsidise these services through fundraising while grappling with rising costs and annual funding uncertainty. 

“The Government must invest in sustainable, multiannual funding that recognises the true value of the sector and ensures communities across Ireland continue to receive the supports they need. If Government is serious about building a fairer, more resilient Ireland, it must put community at the heart of our democracy,” said Dónall Geoghegan

The Wheel is calling for multiannual funding to be applied across all Government departments, arguing that annual funding cycles undermine long-term planning, staff retention and service delivery.

The body, which represents 2,700 charities and community groups also called for increased departmental allocations to support contracted services, a move to full-cost recovery funding, a dedicated scheme to offset rising energy costs, extension of pay equity agreements across all Government departments, greater investment in workforce development, and stronger support for social enterprises and philanthropy.

Highlighting the scale of the sector’s contribution to Irish society, Dónall Geoghegan said that Ireland has almost 35,000 community and voluntary organisations, employing more than 280,000 people in charities alone and supported by 1.12 million volunteers whose economic contribution is estimated at between €1.2 billion and €2.6 billion annually.

Members of The Wheel, The Society of St Vincent De Paul, the Irish Wheelchair Association and Belong To also spoke at the event to highlight the impact of their services, and they warned that funding issues endanger the sustainability of the crucial support they bring to the people who need it most.

Dónall Geoghegan concluded: “Government should focus on strengthening Ireland’s social infrastructure as economic uncertainty grows and living costs continue to rise. It needs to invest more in communities to advance Ireland’s economic resilience, social cohesion and democratic participation.” 

Read our 2027 Pre-Budget Submission