Press Release - Dáil na nÓg 2006
Dáil na nÓg 2006
Saturday 25 March 2006
Croke Park, Dublin Teenagers seek the development of a national website for information/exchange about youth activities
200 delegates, elected by Comhairle na nÓg throughout the country, attended the Dáil. The themes selected by delegates in their Comhairle in advance of the Dáil were facilities for teenagers and migration and interculturalism.
On the issue of migration and interculturalism, delegates voted as their top three issues:
- At points of entry, migrant workers and asylum seekers should be provided with information, education and support on Irish culture, society and customs, including the English language;
- Integration should be promoted through the education system, and there should be a focus on inclusiveness and interculturalism;
- The Government should invest in special initiatives aimed at educating people about other cultures and Ireland’s changing identity.
On the issue of facilities for teenagers, delegates at Dáil na nÓg 2006 voted as their top three issues:
- The development of a national website that would act as an information exchange for youth activities;
- Increase low cost transport for rural and disabled young people;
- Affordable youth facilities run by trained youth leaders together with young people.
In his opening speech to the Dáil, Brian Lenihan TD, Minister for Children, said ‘as Minister for Children, I met with the Coiste na dTeachtaí (Representatives Committee) during its term of office, to discuss the most effective way to follow-up on the recommendations from Dáil na nÓg 2005. I am pleased to report that the Coiste brought the recommendations from the previous Dáil to a wide range of policy-makers, which I believe will make a real difference for young people’.
‘I am very committed to the importance of effective Comhairle na nÓg throughout the country, as a means of involving children and young people in policy development and service delivery at local and national level. The OMC commissioned an independent review of Comhairle na nÓg, which was completed in October 2005. The review highlights that the operation and activities of Comhairle na nÓg varies throughout the country. It is clear from the results of this Review, that the Comhairle na nÓg structure is not functioning effectively in all areas of the country and needs further development and support’ continued the Minister.
‘In order to address this problem, the OMC will shortly set up a Comhairle na nÓg Planning Group with representation from all of the key organisations involved in Comhairle na nÓg, as well as young people. This group will examine the key findings from the Review and develop a plan to ensure the establishment and development of effective Comhairle na nÓg by every City and County Development Board in the country. The Planning Group will report to me, and I look forward to examining its recommendations’ he added.
On the issue of migration and interculturalism, the Minister noted a number of important initiatives being undertaken as part of the National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPR) including:
- Training for the primary school teacher to support the roll-out of intercultural guidelines;
- The establishment of a steering group to oversee the development of an Intercultural Strategy in the Youth Sector;
- A targeted recruitment programme by An Garda Síochána to attract applicants from ethnic minorities;
- A research project being carried out by the NUI Limerick into racism and the criminal law;
- Encouraging minority ethnic participation in the forthcoming Census.
‘My Office is developing a recreation policy for teenagers. Earlier this week, we published the Report of the Public Consultation for the Development of the National Recreation Policy for Young People. There were 940 responses to the public consultation and three quarters of the responses were from young people. The Public Consultation made it clear that teenagers want somewhere to hang-out with their friends. They want a place that is safe, warm, indoors, affordable, relaxed and legitimate; a place where they can have a sense of ownership, where they can go in their free time and not get into trouble’ declared the Minister.
‘The success of youth cafes and drop-in centres feature strongly in the public consultation, which confirms the fact that as teenagers grow older, they become more interested in unstructured recreation. I am pleased to see that youth clubs and sports organizations, particularly the GAA, also emerged strongly in the examples of recreation that worked well’ he added.
‘I will bring the outcomes of Dáil na nÓg to the attention of the Cabinet’ concluded the Minister.
Dáil na nÓg was organised by the National Youth Council in co-operation with, and on behalf of the Office of the Minister for Children (OMC).
Ends
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