National Board & Sub Groups

Youth Work Ireland have an ambitious agenda in relation to youth participation which seeks to involve young people in the decision making within our organisation. We are proud to say that a third of our National Board is made up of young people. 

Youth Work Ireland National Board Members

Deborah Fakaye (President)
Catherine Durkin (Chairperson)
Bill Thompson (Treasurer)
Jordan Cassells
John Byrne
Michael Connolly
Shirley Donegan
Tom Dunne
Caroline Flanagan
Christina Fogarty
Danielle Gayson
Geraldine Lacey
Patrick Moore
Sive Burford Murray
Tiernan Murray
Paul McCusker
Maurice Walsh
Company Secretary (Vacant)
Patrick Burke (Chief Executive)
National Youth Federation Limited (T/A Youth Work Ireland) Reg. No.: 193547.  CRA:20068363   Tax exemption for Charities : CHY18032

National Board Sub Groups

Integrated Youth Services Sub Group

The Integrated Youth Services Sub Group are tasked to over see the implementation of Objective 1 (Strengthen our Integrated Youth Services Model) and Objective 2 (Improve and Share our Youth Work Practice) of Youth Work Ireland’s Strategic Plan. The Sub Group will develop and implement a Work Plan to assist in reaching these objectives and will report to the National Board on a regular basis. The sub group is made up of no more than 11 full members drawn from among the Regional Directors Network. Membership of the Sub-Group is for a period of no more than three years.  The term of the Chair of the group will terminate when their period of services on the Board ceases after 3 years.  In that event a new chair will be appointed by the Board. The Sub group may seek expert help from time to time.

Members of the Integrated Youth Services Sub Group:

Christian Fogarty (Chair)
Tom Dunne, Kildare Youth Services
Geraldine Lacey, Youth Work Ireland Midlands
Mary Mescal, Ossory Youth
Irene Murphy, Youth Work Ireland Galway
Fiona O'Grady, Limerick Youth Service
Lorraine Thompson, Donegal Youth Service

Finance & General Purposes Sub Committee

The purpose of the Finance and General Purposes Sub-Committee is to advise and direct on the management of financial and other resources together with Human Resource Management. Members of the group are nominated on an annual basis by the membership of the National Board of Directors and will always include the Chairperson of the National Board, the Treasurer and Volunteer and Senior Management Representatives, the Chief Executive and National Services Manager will be in attendance.  Further co-options are permissible with the approval of the full board and these co-options will be explicitly for the introduction of particular skills and expertise to the group.  The group will meet between full meetings of the National Board normally two weeks in advance of board meetings.  Members are responsible for the prudent financial management of the organisation, the effective management of personnel within the organisation and the organisation and management of resources and assets available to the organisation.

Members of the Finance & General Purposes Sub Committee

Geraldine Lacey, Youth Work Ireland Midlands
Paul McClusker, Youth Work Ireland National Board
Bill Thompson, Youth Work Ireland National Board

Safe Guarding - Child Protection Sub Group

This Sub Group is tasked to ensure that Youth Work Ireland has the relevant child protection policies, procedures, systems, documents, trainings and supports for  in place across all the organisations.  The group must ensure that work is carried out to put in place the appropriate policies, procedures, systems, documents, trainings and supports in place across all the organisations making up and being part of the Federation. The group is also tasked to:

  • Review the annual audit of Child Protection Compliance, and make relevant additions to the work plan as needed.
  • Develop an annual plan of work for the sub group, to be presented to the Board for approval.
  • Report to the board on Child Protection issues impacting on the Federal Organisation
  • Manage the relationship between HSE, DCYA, the Family and Children Support Agency, An Garda Siochana and any other relevant national body having responsibility for Child Protection.
  • Manage the relationship between National Office (NO) and members who are in receipt of funding for Garda Diversion projects.

Members of the Child Protection Sub Group

Fran Bissett, Kildare Youth Services
Maggie Flanagan, Waterford & South Tipperary Community Youth Services
Patrick Bookle, Ossory Youth
Chris Fogarty, Waterford & Sth. Tipperary Community Youth Services
Geri Hogarty, Youth Work Ireland Meath
Charlene Logue, Donegal Youth Service
Kathryn Wall, Carlow Regional Youth Services

National Youth Action Group (for more information on the NYAG, click here>>)

The National Youth Action Group (NYAG) is made up of young people from various Member Youth Services in Youth Work Ireland. 

The aims of NYAG are:

  • Be a sub group of the national board to 'youth proof' Youth Work Ireland activities.
  • Ensuring youth membership of the national board
  • Ensuring voting rights for young people at Youth Work Ireland's Annual General Meeting
  • Connecting with young people all over Ireland so that they are listened to and their voices are heard!

Members of the National Youth Action Group 

Meaghan McCarthy - Chair (Kildare Youth Services)
Abby Mahon (Kildare Youth Services)
Julian Nagi (Youth Work Ireland Laois)
Joseph Burke (Youth Work Ireland Galway)
Jordan Cassells 
Danielle Gayson (Youth Work Ireland Tipperary)
Tiernan Murray (Youth Work Ireland Meath)
Sive Burford Murray (Youth Work Ireland Meath)
Chelsea Ryan Gibson (Youth Work Ireland Tipperary)
Robert O'Donnell 
Fintan O'Dwyer (Youth Work Ireland Tipperary)
Conor Horgan (KDYS)
Robert Nebirsy
Deborah Fakeye (Youth Work Ireland Midlands)
Sorcha Kelly