- “You get to use your voice here” Youth services are a lifeline for young people in Finglas.
- Demand for services is rising as population grows and needs become more complex.
Youth services in Finglas are providing vital support for young people, but a new report shows that the scale of challenges in the area is growing, and services are struggling to keep pace.
The Youth Work Support Needs Analysis Report, commissioned by Crosscare’s Finglas Youth Service, Finglas Youth Resource Centre, and Dublin City Council, captures the lived experiences of young people alongside the views of those who support them.
Through consultation with young people, youth workers, community organisations and other key stakeholders, the report highlights the strengths of existing youth services alongside the challenges and gaps in provision.
The research found that, for many young people, youth services are one of the few consistent supports in their lives:
“The workers here are brilliant, they don’t judge — it’s like chatting with a friend but with boundaries.”
“You get to use your voice here in a way that doesn’t happen in other places.”
These spaces offer safety, connection and a chance to build confidence. But the report makes clear that young people are dealing with a complex mix of pressures — often all at once.
Education is a major challenge. Schools are described as stretched, with limited after-school supports and increasing difficulty keeping young people engaged. Some young people are struggling with attendance, while others are feeling overwhelmed by academic pressure.
“School teachers are stretched doing counselling instead of teaching.”
Substance misuse is another serious concern. Drug use is described as highly visible in the community and increasingly normalised, with reports that children as young as 10 are being exposed. This is not just affecting individuals, but entire families, with intergenerational addiction highlighted as an ongoing issue.
“It’s so common, you can smell it everywhere.”
“In school, they are becoming agitated as they need to get home to smoke weed”
Mental health pressures are also significant. Young people spoke about anxiety, isolation and difficulty coping, with long waiting lists making it harder to access formal supports when they need them.
“We have worries, depression, grief and fitting in.”
The report also highlights wider environmental challenges shaping young people’s lives — including safety concerns, lack of spaces to socialise, and exposure to anti-social behaviour and intimidation.
Despite these pressures, Finglas remains a community with a strong local identity and connection.
“There is a sense of togetherness.”
Youth services are playing a crucial role in providing safe spaces, positive relationships and opportunities for young people to develop and stay connected. For some, it is the first step in re-engaging with education or accessing other supports.
The report is clear that demand is outstripping capacity. Finglas has a young and growing population — around 30% under 24 — and planned housing developments will further increase this in the coming years.
With services stretched, limited staffing, and funding constraints, it is difficult to reach all young people who need support.
“Every counselling service in the area is at full capacity at the moment”
“With a hard-to-reach target group, we can work with them up to a point, but the level of need is such that they need more time, more family support, more connection – one and a half hours a week will not do it.”
The report calls for increased investment, more accessible youth spaces and stronger coordination between services to respond to the scale of need.
Without these changes, it warns that the gap between support and demand will continue to widen as the area grows, increasing the need for intervention and critical support for the children and young people of Finglas.
Read the full report here: Youth Work Support Needs Analysis Report for Greater Finglas Area
