From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has launched the Comhairle na nÓg Five Year Development Plan at the annual Comhairle na nÓg Organisers Information Event.
Comhairle na nÓg is the structure across Ireland’s 31 local authority areas that gives children and young people a voice in decision-making on government policy, and gives rise to Ireland’s recognition as a world-leader on youth participation. This achievement has not gone unnoticed and yesterday Taoiseach, Micheál Martin T.D., took time to directly address the Comhairle na nÓg organisers, highlighting the importance of the work done by the Comhairlí. Speaking at the event An Taoiseach said:
“On the international stage, Ireland is seen as a country where children and young people’s views are listened to, respected and routinely taken on board in the public services offered to them - a place where they are seen as citizens of today and not just the adults of tomorrow. ”
The Comhairle na nÓg Five Year Development Plan, launched by Minister O’Gorman at the event, builds on the strengths of Comhairle na nÓg as a structure for allowing children and young people to have a say in decisions that affect them. The plan aims for Comhairle na nÓg to reach more children and young people, influence more decision-makers and deliver on Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), to make a true difference to the lives of young people.
Launching the Five Year Plan, Minister O’Gorman said:
“I have no doubt that this Comhairle na nÓg Five Year Development Plan will only assist the Comhairle go from strength to strength. Having a plan in place will help ensure that areas requiring development in Comhairle will get the space and attention needed. I am confident that this Plan will ensure that Comhairle remains relevant and becomes even more inclusive and visible.”
The Five Year Plan was developed through consultation with young people and with stakeholders under the guidance of a Steering Committee established specifically for this purpose.
The Plan is available here. A youth friendly version is under development and will be launched later this year.
Funding and resourcing of Comhairle na nÓg is a key element in the Comhairle na nÓg Five Year Development Plan. Comhairle na nÓg organisers welcomed Minister O’Gorman’s announcement that additional funding of €5,000 is being made available to each Comhairle to start implementing the plan. In addition, an increase in annual funding through Comhairle na nÓg Development Fund, from 2022 onwards, will result in an increased funding of approximately 25% for each Comahirlí.
ENDS
The Comhairle na nÓg Development Fund is annual funding from DCEDIY that is distributed among the Comhairlí across 31 local authorities. The fund is administered by Pobal.
Comhairle na nÓg Development Fund Annual Report 2020 from Pobal was also launched at the event. Pobal administers this fund collaboration with the Department since 2011. The Report is available on Pobal’s website here.
This event provides an opportunity for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) to engage with those who deliver the range of services for Comhairle na nÓg, including Local Authority personnel and Comhairle Co-ordinators. It provides an important opportunity to acknowledge the work carried out, to update relevant personnel on key policy developments and to present the annual report on Comhairle activities from Pobal who administer and audit the Comhairle na nÓg Development fund on behalf of the Department.
The 5-Year Development Plan for Comhairle na nÓg sets out a clear Vision and Mission for Comhairle na nÓg for the next five years, supported by a set of Values that express the shared beliefs of and what’s important to the Comhairle na nÓg community. The Plan has identified five strategic goals, and a set of SMART (Specified, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-based) objectives and actions to deliver these goals.
Vision: Comhairle Na nÓg is recognised locally and nationally as the go to structure empowering young people of all backgrounds to speak up, be heard and influence decisions on matters that affect their lives
Mission: Our mission is to be the permanent rights-based structure that represents the voice of young people in Ireland and provides them with a platform to meaningfully engage with decision-makers and influence matters that affect them
1. Extending the reach and influence of Comhairle na nÓg by engaging more broadly with young people and decision-makers
2. Improving the operational delivery
3. Enhancing and improving the culture and communications of Comhairle na nÓg in order to be more widely recognised
4. Strengthening and organising the internal and external structures across all the Comhairle na nÓg relationships
5. Building an evidence base and innovating
Comhairle na nÓg are child and youth councils operating in each of the 31 Local Authority areas across Ireland. Comhairle na nÓg gives children and young people the opportunity to be involved in, and have a voice in the development of, local and national services and policies and any issues that affect them in their local area. It is the recognised national structure for participation by children and young people (aged 12-17 years) in decision-making. Comhairle na nÓg is funded and managed through the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). At the local level, Comhairle na nÓg is managed by Local Authorities.
1. To encourage young people to identify, prioritise and progress topics that are important to them through enabling their influence on decision-makers to take action
2. Objective is, to act as a consultative forum for adult decision-makers who want to include the views of young people in their work, whether it is policy development or gathering feedback on services and facilities.