34 secondary school pupils from Shannon participated today in the first of four local area sessions of the 2010 Clare Comhairle na nÓg.
Comhairle na nÓg is a local forum for young people where they can discuss local and national issues of relevance to them.
Today’s forum was organised by the Clare County Development Board and was supported by Clare County Council, Clare Youth Services, An Garda Síochána, Clare Sports Partnership, Clare Local Development Company, and the Clare Youth Officer (VEC), under the County Development Board.
Students, ranging in ages from 12-18, of Saint Caimin's Community School and St. Patrick's Comprehensive School gathered in the Oakwood Arms to discuss a range of issues, including the provision and use of facilities and services for youths in Shannon and adults’ perception of young people.
Five students were selected by secret ballot to represent the Shannon area on the Clare Comhairle na nÓg 2010-11 Committee. The successful delegates were Mary Hayes (17), Siobhan Breen (15) and Clodagh Shortiss (16) of St Patrick's Comprehensive, and Adam Birchall (16) and Mark Freeman (12) of St. Caimin’s.
Mayor of Clare Councillor Christy Curtin, who attended today’s forum, congratulated the students for the enthusiasm with which they discussed the various issues of relevance to them.
He said: “Since 2002, Comhairle na nÓg has presented the young people of Clare with a wonderful opportunity to contribute to making things better for themselves and their communities. The Comhairle also helps to reinforce the need for the County’s main agencies to work together, as well as to promote the efforts of the County Development Board and the role of the students’ respective County Councillors.”
“I look forward to meeting participating students at the three remaining fora, which are part of a long-term plan of improving the ability of Clare’s young people to represent their thoughts and ideas”, added Mayor Curtin.
The remaining Fora will take place at the GAA Hall in Scarriff (Mon October 18), Bellbridge Hotel in Spanish Point (Thur October 21) and Cois Na hAbhana In Ennis (Thur November 4).
Five local Comhairle delegates will proceed to represent Clare in the annual Dáil na nÓg or “youth parliament" each year along with children from 33 other local authority areas.
Further information on Comhairle na nÓg and the upcoming Fora is available from Nicola Cullinan, Comhairle na nÓg Coordinator, Community and Enterprise, Clare County Council, at 056-6846222 or dceoff@clarecoco.ie.
