Comhairle na nÓg 2009– “Creating A Better Ireland for Young People”

27/02/2009

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 27^th FEBRUARY 2008

Comhairle na nÓg 2009– “Creating A Better Ireland for Young People”

South Dublin County Council will host Comhairle na nÓg - A Seminar for young people Wednesday 4^th March 2009, in Fettercairn Youth and Community Centre, Fettercairn, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

Comhairli na nÓg are local youth councils, which give children and young people the opportunity to be involved in the development of local services and policies. It provides the youth of South Dublin County with an opportunity to identify and discuss matters which affect their daily lives, and is a place for young people to pass on their views and concerns to decision-makers in both local and national government. South Dublin County Comhairle na nÓg was selected as one of three projects to be evaluated as examples of best practice that other Comhairlí across the country can emulate.

This event will be launched by South Dublin Mayor Marie Corr. As 2009 is “The European Year of Creativity and Innovation” the theme for this event is “Creating a Better Ireland for Young People”. Ronanstown Youth Service will facilitate on the day using debating and drama as a medium to interact with young people. It is expected that most Post Primary schools will take part. The positive and negative aspects of websites such as Bebo and Facebook will be debated on the day.

The aim of this seminar is to substantially increase the number of schools participating in the South Dublin County Comhairle na nÓg structure. This consultation process is essential as it provides South Dublin Comhairle na nÓg and South Dublin County Council with the opportunity to engage with the young citizens of the County, therefore promoting active participation of young people within their local communities. Student Councils throughout the County were asked to elect two members from their schools to attend this event and become active members of Comhairle na nÓg.

In taking this initiative, South Dublin County Council has set a high standard in terms of the youth consultation process, so as to ensure that the first goal of the National Children’s Strategy is met: “Children will have a voice in matters which affect them and their views will be given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity”. The seminar provides young people with the opportunity to have a voice in improving the quality of their lives in South Dublin. Workshop material from the day will be available for all to see in the coming weeks in our new Library, Red Multi Media Centre and The Big Picture.

For further information please contact Niamh Carton, Comhairle na nÓg, Community Services Department, County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24. 4149000