Dáil na nÓg meets once a year under the auspices (meaning sponsorship or backing) of the Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Children. A report of the outcome will be published and submitted to the Cabinet Committee on Children.

The objectives of the Dáil are to:

- Provide a place where children, who are representative of the average Irish Child, can raise and debate issues of concern to them;

- Act as a tool for children's concerns to be fed into the development of public policy making;

- Provide a model for children's participation which can be developed at local level with links to the national Dáil;

- Support civic, social and personal development in children;

- Provide a centre for children to hear and learn about the experiences of other children growing up in Ireland.