The survey, which questioned 1,250 five- to 17-year-old users of web site SwapitShop (www.swapitshop.com), found that just under one in four said crime needed the most investment, while the same figure thought the environment needed the most money.
One 14-year-old girl said the NHS should receive funding because, "you hear horror stories of people dying because of MRSA".
Nearly three in five respondents said their school had enough money to spend on books, but less than half said their school had enough money to spend on after-school events (48 per cent), or looking after school buildings (46 per cent).
Jonathan Attwood, Swapits chief executive, said: "We found it slightly surprising that the health service came up as that high a priority as we often find that environmental issues are important with young people. They also say that they don't have enough things to do in the evening - they want after-school activities because they have nothing to do apart from hanging around the bus shelter."
