Minister Calleary hosts the Department of Social Protection’s Pre Budget Forum

• Over 60 representative organisations and community groups represented
• Unique opportunity for stakeholders to meet with Minister Calleary ahead of Budget 2026

The Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary TD, today hosted the Department’s annual Pre-Budget Forum in Chartered Accountants House, Pearse Street, Dublin 2.

This forum offers a unique opportunity for NGOs, trade union and business representatives to discuss policy issues and present their priorities for the upcoming Budget.

Representatives from a broad range of organisations and community groups attended the Forum. The event was moderated by Ingrid Miley, broadcaster.

Speaking at the Forum, Minister Calleary thanked the many groups for attending and providing valuable contributions which helps to create an understanding of their priorities for Budget initiatives.

The Forum provided for workshops which gave stakeholders the opportunity to discuss their priorities.

Addressing the Forum, Minister Calleary said:

“This highly important event provides me with a great opportunity to meet with organisations who advocate so passionately for their constituencies and set out their priorities for the upcoming budget.

It is a unique forum where I get to hear the evidence and policy analysis from those who are directly affected by budget measures, such as pensioners, carers, people with disabilities or others who rely on social welfare supports.”

Notes:

List of organisations represented at Pre-Budget 2026 Forum

• Active Retirement Ireland
• Age Action Ireland
• Age and Opportunity
• AHEAD
• Alone
• Alzheimer Society of Ireland
• Aontas
• American Chamber of Commerce Ireland
• As I Am
• ATD Fourth World Ireland
• Barnardos
• Brokers Ireland
• Care Alliance Ireland
• Children's Rights Alliance
• Chime
• Citizens Information Board
• Citizens Information Service
• Crosscare
• Disabled Artists and Disabled Academics
• Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI)
• European Anti-Poverty Network
• Family Carers Ireland
• Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC)
• Focus Ireland
• Home and Community Care Ireland
• I.B.E.C
• I.C.T.U
• Inclusion Ireland
• Independent Living Movement Ireland
• Irish Cancer Society
• Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association
• Irish Council for Social Housing
• Irish Countrywomen’s Association
• Irish Farmers’ Association
• Irish Hospice Foundation (rep. Alliance of Age Sector NGOs)
• Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU)
• Irish Refugee Council
• Irish Rural Link
• Irish Senior Citizens’ Parliament (see Alliance of Age Sector NGOs)
• ISME
• Irish Wheelchair Association
• Mental Health Reform
• Movement for Change in Foster Care
• National Association of Widows in Ireland
• National Council for the Blind in Ireland
• National Federation of Pensioners' Associations
• National One Parent Family Alliance
• National Women’s Council of Ireland
• National Youth Council of Ireland
• Neurology Support Centre
• One Family
• Pavee Point
• Protestant Aid
• Rehab Group
• Retired Workers Committee (ICTU)
• SAGE Advocacy
• Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (S.E.A.I)
• Simon Community
• S.I.P.T.U. – Retired Members Section
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul
• Social Justice Ireland
• SPARK (Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Kids)
• Threshold
• The Wheel
• TREOIR
• Teen Parents Support Programme (TREOIR)
• Trustus We Care
• Union of Students in Ireland
• Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice
• Vision Ireland