Dáil na nÓg [Youth Parliament Ireland]
Age Group: 12-18 year olds
Specific Interest Group: Dáil na nÓg means “youth parliament” and is a chance for the children and young people of Ireland to represent the views of all Irish children at national level. Dáil na nÓg delegates have the chance to let the decision makers in Government know what they think of issues that affect their daily lives, for example education and play facilities.
Every young person, aged 12 -18, in Ireland has the right to be represented at their County or City Comhairle na nÓg and nationally at Dáil na nÓg. There may be someone from your area, school or youth organisation who is involved in Comhairle na nÓg. Local decision makers listen to them representing your views at the Comhairle na nÓg. If you would like to find out which young people are representing you, please contact your local Development Board. You can find contact details by selecting your area on this map.
Every young person in Ireland is represented by young people in their county or city at their regional Comhairle na nÓg and nationally at Dáil na nÓg. Local decision makers listen to the young people involved who are representing your views at the regional Comhairle na nÓg. If you would like to find out more about your City or County’s Comhairle na nÓg, please contact your local Development Board. You can find contact details by selecting your area on the map opposite.
How are the Children and Young People involved?
200 delegates from across the Republic of Ireland attend Dáil na nÓg. These delegates are the only decision-makers at Dáil na nÓg. The delegates are facilitated in group work sessions – many of the facilitators are ex-delegates. The Dáil is also chaired by two trained young people, one of whom has been a member of the Coiste na dTeachtaí the previous year.
The Coiste na dTeachtaí is the group elected to drive forward the ideas and recommendations that emerged at Dáil na nÓg and aims to:
Give young people the chance to follow up on what was agreed by delegates at Dáil na nÓg;
Represent Dáil na nÓg at relevant conferences;
Meet and present the outcomes of Dáil na nÓg to Ministers, T.Ds, government officials and representatives of the Taoiseach’s office;
Inform their fellow delegates about progress during the follow-up to Dáil na nÓg.
This is the first year that the Coiste is entirely representative of each delegation in attendance at Dáil na nÓg (34). The elections for the Coiste na dTeachtaí took place at local level in the Delegate Preparation Meetings. Four members from the 2005 Coiste na dTeachtaí will also remain on this year’s Coiste in an advisory capacity.
Young people are also members of the Dáil na nÓg Steering Committee, which is the planning group for the event itself.
Contact Details
Olivia McEvoy
Dáil na nÓg Project Coordinator
National Youth Council of Ireland
3 Montague Street
Dublin 2
T: +353 1 4255958
F: +353 1 4783974
E: olivia.mcevoy@nyci.ie
W: http://www.dailnanog.ie
