COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 12, 2021

MOTION NO. 17

MOTION: Councillor Alan Edge

That this Council invites Comhairle na nÓg to brief full council on their work twice a year and that we likewise brief them on the work of the Council and invite them to make submissions on matters such as the County Development Plan and Green Infrastructure Strategy.

REPORT:

Arranagements can be made with South Dublin Comhairle na nÓg to provide regular updates at Council meetings as required if the Elected Members require such formal updates or alternatively updates could be provided to the Social, Community and Equality SPC with details then provided to full Council by way of updates from the SPC meetings.

The primary focus for South Comhairle na nÓg’s 2021 workplan is Climate Change Action with youth mental health and the impacts of Covid-19 also key items.

They have  recently undertaken a survey of pupils from the thirty-eight secondary schools in the County about their options for disposal of food waste and recycling in general.  As a result of the survey, the Comhairle have formulated a workplan and formed four subgroups as follows:

• Principals – this subgroup is contacting each principal to brief them on the results of the survey and the associated work of Comhairle.
• Green Schools – working with the Environmental Awareness Officer, this subgroup seeks to support established Green Schools committees and aid in the establishment of committees in schools that do not have one.
• Social Media – The Comhairle have decided to do an awareness raising project on social media based on the results of the survey. The campaign will feature an animated video and stills for use on social media, and a poster which will be distributed to all schools in the county.
• Climate Change Action – The social media campaign will be officially launched during Climate Action Week on Saturday 18^th September at an event in Rathfarnham Castle. This subgroup will be working closely with the Environmental Awareness Officer to plan the Comhairle input into the event.

Inter-Agency Work

The Comhairle are very cognisant of the importance of youth participation and engagement with local stakeholders and in local decision making and have developed the following interagency connections:

• The Comhairle Steering Committee is made up of representatives from Foróige, Crosscare, DDLETB, CYPSC, LCDC, PPN, four elected representatives and two nominated members of Comhairle. The two Comhairle nominees brief the committee regularly and receive guidance and input into their workplan, and the whole Comhairle meets with the committee for an event annually.
• Two members of Comhairle were invited to sit on the Youth & Mental Health and Homeless Families sub-committees of the South Dublin Children and Young People's Services Committee (CYPSC),to engage on issues of importance to local young people in the county and they also brief the full CYPSC twice annually on the work of the Comhairle.
• Two nominated members of Comhairle briefed the Local Communtiy Development Committee on the activities of Comhaile at the recent LCDC meeting on June 16th and it has been agreed that this will continue twice annually goign forward.