COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTON/NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

MOTION NO. 3

MOTION: Councillor Shane Moynihan

That this Area Committee facilitate a virtual workshop/series of workshops with representatives of student councils in the Lucan and Palmerstown-Fonthill electoral area to discuss matters which students in those schools which to focus on.

REPORT:

South Dublin County Council does not have role in supporting student councils within schools and this would be for the school(s) and Department of Education.

The Council does support the Comhairle na nÓg progamme. Comhairle na nÓg are child and youth councils in the 31 local authorities of the country, which give children and young people aged 12-17 who do not have the vote the opportunity to be involved in the development of local services and policies. Comhairlí meet every year at their AGM to decide their workplan for the coming year; the work of Comhairle is done under the auspice of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and Councils are required to report on this work every year. Members sign up voluntarily and are made up of students from the junior and senior cycles, within the student council and without, with a requirement from the Department to facilitate the voices of the seldom heard. Comhairle is not a consultative body and does not act as a focus group.

The 2020 AGM for Comhairle na nÓg in South Dublin took place on 17th November. In the coming weeks documentation will be issued to schools in the county on how to participate in and nominate students to Comhairle na nÓg.

Currently there are Comhairle na nÓg members from two schools in Lucan and none in Palmerstown. Schools interested in participating may contact the Community Department for further information.