24 Irish LGBTQ+ organisations have put forward a coordinated and detailed Pre-Budget 2027 proposal built on frontline data. The ‘Funding Inclusive Futures’ framework aims to boost funding for regional services, education, healthcare and more.
After a cross-party briefing concerning Budget 2027 in Leinster House on July 15, the coalition is calling for more evidence-based financial interventions across communities, education, healthcare and infrastructure for LGBTQ+ communities. The proposal asks for sustainable multi-annual funding for regional services, at a total cost of €3 million, an expansion of inclusive school programmes at €650,000 and a new model for trans healthcare at a cost of €5.5 million.
Specific asks that the Budget 2027 proposal includes are, “Investing in training and pathways, including for intersex people, to improve health outcomes”, “Ensuring funding for effective gender-affirming healthcare services”, “Funding LGBTQl+ specific mental health services, to reverse worsening health outcomes”, “Investing in an equitable, accessible, and inclusive sexual health system” and “Supporting access to safe, regulated, and affordable pathways to parenthood for all LGBTQl+ people”.
This proposal was made at a political briefing where TDs and Senators of the Oireachtas engaged directly with community advocates.
While the coalition acknowledged the work already done in aid of LGBTQ+ communities in recent years, they highlighted that young LGBTQ+ people still experience self-harm at high rates, transgender and gender non-conforming people face mounting barriers to healthcare, and LGBTQ+ community services remain overstretched and underfunded.
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The coalition is being led by Belong To and LGBT Ireland, but is made up of 22 other organisations, including: AMACH! LGBT Galway, Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride, Equality for Children, Gay Health Network, Gay Project, Gender Rebels, GOSHH, HIV Ireland, Intersex Ireland, Irish Gay Dads, Midlands LGBT+ Project, the NXF, Outcomers, Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre, Outwest, Shoutout, TENI, The Switchboard, Trans Healthcare Action, and Transgress the NGS.
CEO of Belong To, Kieran O’Donovan, spoke about the proposal, saying, “Budget 2027 provides an opportunity to create an equitable Ireland, for the benefit of all, by building the inclusive communities, society, and health system that will allow LGBTQI+ people to live full, free, and safe lives.”
He continued, stating, “They need schools, youth services and communities where they feel safe, supported and that they truly belong. This Budget is an opportunity to make practical investments that can help achieve that.”
Anne Byrne, CEO of LGBT Ireland, added, “LGBTQI+ people are in every county, community and family across Ireland. For years, the services and infrastructure that support them to thrive has been under-resourced, and public services not equipped for inclusion.”
She finished, saying, “Investing in LGBTQI+ services, healthcare, and society, is an investment in communities. These Budget proposals will benefit all, and help create the safe, vibrant and inclusive Ireland that we all want to be a part of.”
Budget 2027 is to be revealed on October 6, 2026, with an estimated total of €9.4 billion, making this proposal just 0.09% of the overall funding available.
© 2026 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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