Read our 2024 annual report
Knowledge Hub
The Concern Debates programme runs for several months and is completed over a number of stages. Every year, more than 150 schools take part in our programme which gives students the opportunity to research, explore and then debate some of the defining issues of today.
- From September - December, the League Phase will take place. Each school will have three debates which will take place online.
- In January, the top 64 schools will progress to the Knockout Stages of the programme. The Knockout Stages will continue online.
- In March, the Quarter Finals will take place. These will be held in-person in mid-way venues arranged by the Concern Debates team.
- The Semi-Finals will take place in-person in Dublin in April 2026.
- The Final will take place in the Helix, Dublin on the 7th of May 2026.
We will also have in-person workshops at the end of the League Phase. This will give students a chance to further explore some of the issues they have debated and meet other debaters from different schools. These will take place in several locations around the country.
Get started 
League Table
Once the programme begins, this is where you will find the League Table for 2025-2026.
Student Training Workshops
18th of September – Dublin
23rd of September – Galway
25th of September – Online
2nd of October – Derry
3rd of October – Belfast
8th of October – Kilkenny
9th of October – Limerick
Other ways to help
Corporate support
Is your company interested in working together for a common cause?
Fundraise for Concern
From mountain trekking to marathon running, cake sales to table quizzes, there are lots of ways you can support our work.
Buy a gift
With an extensive range of alternative gifts, we have something to suit everybody.
Leave a gift in your will
Leave the world a better place with a life-changing legacy.
Volunteer with Concern
The lots of ways to get involved with our work as a volunteer
School fundraising
Without the generous support from schools, we wouldn't be able to do the work that we do.