(1888PressRelease)
November 21, 2007 - The meeting has been organised by the Clare County Development Board, as part of the Comhairle na nÓg or 'youth council' initiative. Clare Comhairle na nÓg, which includes representatives of primary and secondary schools, is a local forum for young people where they can discuss local and national issues of relevance to them. Since 2002, Clare Comhairle na nÓg has seen a steady increase in its membership with up to 40 local schools now participating.
Speaking ahead of the upcoming meeting in the West County Hotel in Ennis, Mayor of Clare Cllr. Patricia McCarthy said, "The objective of the Comhairlí is to give children and young people a voice at a community level. In my address to delegates, I will outline the importance of considering the opinions of younger members of the community when devising local or national policy."
"I am delighted to see that Comhairle na nÓg is increasingly being recognised by local, regional and national bodies. It has provided representation to a number of initiatives such as Dáil na nÓg. This proves that the process is effective and does make a difference to the lives of young people", added the Mayor.
The upcoming Comhairle na nÓg meeting will consist of two separate workshops and feedback sessions, which will feed into the review of Clare Local Authorities Play Policy and the development of a new Strategy for Clare Sports Partnership.
Meanwhile, five Comhairle na nÓg delegates will be selected to represent County Clare at the annual Dáil na nÓg on February 15th 2008. The national Young Person's Parliament, which comprises representatives of Comhairlí in 34 Local Authority areas throughout the country, meets once a year and submits an annual report of the outcome to the Cabinet Committee on Children.
Ms. Bríd Kirby, Comhairle na nÓg Co-ordinator, Community and Enterprise, Clare County Council, said that the upcoming meeting would provide an invaluable opportunity for young people, under 18 years of age, to have a say in issues that affect their lives.
"The opening ceremony will feature speeches from two of last year's delegates that represented Clare at Dáil na nÓg and made a presentation to the September meeting of Clare County Council. Their experiences underline Comhairle na nÓg's ability to have its collective voice heard at local and national level", explained Ms. Kirby.
She continued, "Comhairle na nÓg enables young people to engage with decision makers. For example, secondary school delegates will have a panel discussion with the Co-ordinator of the Clare Sports Partnership and Chairperson of Clare County Council's Community & Cultural SPC. Representatives of the Department of Education & Science and the Union of Secondary Students of Ireland are also expected to participate. The discussion will conclude with the appointment of a group to progress the issues over the year."
The Clare County Development Board is responsible for organising local Comhairle na nÓg events while support is provided by Clare County Council's Community and Enterprise Section, the Clare County Childcare Committee, Clare Sports Partnership, Clare Youth Services, County Clare VEC, An Garda Síochána and HSE West.
Further information on Comhairle na nÓg is available from Ms. Bríd Kirby, Comhairle na nÓg Co-ordinator, Community and Enterprise, Clare County Council, at 056-6846222 or dceoff ( @ ) clarecoco dot ie dot For more on Dáil na nÓg log on to www dot dailnanog dot ie dot
Note to Editor:
- The Clare Comhairle na nÓg meeting commences at 9.30am on Wednesday 28th November 2007
- To arrange an interview please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900. High-resolution images are also available on request.
"Clare County Development Board – To shape and support a strategy which will ensure that all the people and the places of the county are valued and respected"
Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
Clonboula,
Connolly,
Ennis,
County Clare
IRELAND
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