Online Chat Service

Have a question? Chat with a Youth Information Officer and we’ll get you an answer.

How does it work?

The chat service is available between 4pm and 8pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). The service is here to support 16 to 25 year olds, parents/guardians, and people who work with young people. If you want to chat to a Youth Information Worker during that time, start a conversation now.

If you would like to leave a message outside of the hours of our chat service, we can come back to you by email the next time we’re online.

What we can help with

We can help you with any questions you have, from education, employment, your rights and entitlements, social protection benefits, college grants, accommodation, and more. We can give you information, answer your questions, and provide you with a second opinion.

The most important thing is your safety 

If you tell us that you are under 18 and are being harmed, are at risk of being harmed, or have been harmed in the past while under 18, we must report this information to Tusla – the Child and Family Agency – and possibly the Gardaí. To make these reports, we need your full name, your age and the county you live in. If you choose not to share this information with us, we will be unable to make a report.

Who will you be talking to?

Our chat service is staffed by Youth Information Officers from centres across Ireland. Youth Information Officers are trained in providing information that is impartial, accurate, relevant to your question, in a non-judgemental and easy to understand way. The Youth Information Officers staffing the system are from YMCA Ireland, Crosscare and Youth Work Ireland.

Chat with us now>>

Are you in a crisis?

This is not a service for people experiencing a mental health crisis, but if you need mental health support right now, text SPUNOUT to 50808 to start an anonymous conversation with a trained volunteer – 24/7.