BellTime 6 pt1:Layout 1
23/09/2016
19:59
Page 31
BellTIME
Dáil na nÓg
Dáil na nÓg is the national parliament for young
people aged 12-18 years. The DCYA funds and oversees
Dáil na nÓg, which is hosted every second year by the
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Delegates are
elected to Dáil na nÓg by the 31 Comhairle na nÓg.
Comhairle na nÓg is funded by a number of agencies.
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA)
Comhairle na nÓg Development Fund provides money
to local authorities to run effective Comhairle na nÓg.
Local authorities also provide funding and resources
for Comhairle na nÓg, as well as other organisations at
local level.
Dáil na nÓg 2015 took place on Friday, 27 November in
Croke Park, Dublin. The theme for Dáil na nÓg 2015 was
‘the need for young people to have a stronger voice in
their education and school’. This theme came out of
workshop discussions at the Comhairle Showcase 2014
in which over 400 young people voted on the areas of
their lives in which they least had a say. Education and
School came out on top. The young people voted their
top priority as the need for a stronger voice on what
happens in the classroom, which is being followed up
by the Comhairle na nÓg National Executive.
How is Comhairle na nÓg supported?
Comhairle na nÓg National Showcase
How is Comhairle na nÓg funded?
As well as funding the 31 Comhairle na nÓg, the
Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) also
funds three regional Participation Officers, who provide
advice, resources and training to all 31 Comhairle na
nÓg Co-ordinators.
The Comhairle na nÓg Coordinator is the key organiser
of Comhairle na nÓg. He or she is supported by the
Department of Children and Youth Affairs Participation
Officers, local colleagues and members of the Steering
Committee.
Comhairle na nÓg Steering Committees help the
Comhairle na nÓg to achieve their desired impact and
change. Steering Committee members usually include
a local authority representative, the Comhairle na nÓg
Coordinator, local youth service representatives, the
VEC Youth Officer and other relevant individuals and
organisations.
Every alternate year, the Comhairle na nÓg National
Showcase is hosted. The National Showcase is an
opportunity for the Comhairle na nÓg groups to
display their work on their topic to national decisionmakers such as TDs, Senators and civil servants and to
link with other Comhairlí na nÓg members.
Comhairle na nÓg National Executive
One representative from each Comhairle na nÓg is
elected to the Comhairle na nÓg National Executive,
which follows up on the recommendations from Dáil
na nÓg and tries to make changes for young people in
those areas. The National Executive has a term of
office of two years and meets once a month. The
Executive is facilitated and supported by the DCYA, who
ensure that they get the opportunity to engage with
appropriate Ministers, policy-makers, Oireachtas
Committees and other decision-makers.
31