31 youth councils across the country
National Executive Meetings 2020-21
The National Executive has a term of office of two years and meets once a month with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the National Participation Office to progress their topic.
The topic:
The Comhairle na nÓg National Executive 2020-21 commenced their term on Sat 25th January 2020. Until the end of 2021, this group will be working on the theme of Climate Change with a specific focus on Climate Conscious Transport Solutions. This came from discussions at the workshop session at Dáil na nÓg 2019 – read report here: Dáil na nÓg 2019 FINAL REPORT
The process:
You can follow the progress of their topic by clicking on the links below to read the meeting newsletters.
There have been 20 online meetings with the group to date since the outbreak of Covid-19. As part of their work, they have met with relevant organisations and decision makers, including the Cycling & Walking Officer from Dublin City Council, representatives from the Climate Change Unit and the Sustainable Mobility Division, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; in addition to the cycling policy advisor at the City of Amsterdam.
NEWS:
October 2021
On 27th October in Dublin Castle, National Executive members Aoibhnea Morrison, Kerry Comhairle, Rebecca Staunton, Mayo Comhairle and Carl Dwyer-Murray, Cork County Comhairle, were invited to attend an informal round-table discussion on the Climate Action Plan 2021 with An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister for Transport, and for Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan.
A key discussion point was how the Climate Action Plan will support our journey towards net zero. They also discussed the success of their recent work on the introduction of the Youth Travel Card. Here’s a snapshot of what was talked about…
A huge win for the Comhairle na nÓg National Executive as Government support their Youth Travel Card proposal
The Comhairle na nÓg National Executive’s proposal was a Youth Travel Card providing a 50% discount on all public transport systems for all young people up to the age of 23, which they proposed and presented to Minister Roderic O’Gorman and Minister Eamon Ryan on 8th July 2021.
This proposal was this week accepted and announced by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, during the budget announcement.
Read full press release here:
July 2021
Meeting of the National Executive with Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman
Presentation on their work on the Youth Travel Card proposal – download here
National Executive Presentation on Youth Travel Card
Youth Travel Card proposal FINAL
Zoom meetings:
Steering Committee presentation: 20.5.2021
National Executive Presentation to Steering Committee
Role of Steering Committee:
A steering committee, or a committee of key stakeholders and decision-makers, has been put in place to advise and oversee the Comhairle na nÓg National Executive. The Steering Committee is designed to advise and assist the organisers of the Comhairle na nÓg National Executive throughout their term. The role of the Steering Committee includes ensuring that the Comhairle na nÓg National Executive:
- has access to appropriate advice and support to assist them in progressing the topic they are working on
- is formally connected to decision-makers and key stakeholders in relation to the topic being worked on.
- has an opportunity to influence decision-making and service development that will affect young people nationally
Adult Steering Committee Members represent the following organisations:
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Department of Environment, Climate and Communications
Department of Taoiseach
Department of Transport
ECO UNESCO
Foróige
National Transport Authority
Trinity College Dublin
Youth Work Ireland
Zoom meeting: 17.04.2021
National Executive meeting notes 17.04.2021
Zoom meeting: 15.03.2021
Meeting notes National Exec meeting notes 15.03.2021
Meeting with Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman
03.02.2021
Minister O’Gorman attended the first Comhairle National Exec meeting of 2021 where members Roisin from Cavan, Carl from Cork County & Ronan from Monaghan presented on their work on Sustainable Transport
Meeting notes National Exec prep meeting for Minister 28.01.2021
Zoom meeting: 19.11.2020
National Executive meeting notes 19.11.2020
Zoom meeting: 29.10.2020
The votes are in. The Comhairle na nÓg National Executive has identified Public Transport as the key issue to work on, in relation to their topic of Climate-Conscious Transport Solutions. You can read about how they came to this consensus in the meeting notes below:
Zoom meeting: 22.09.2020
Zoom meeting with guest speaker from Amsterdam: Mon. 13th July 2020
Notes from meeting with Amsterdam speaker 13.07.2020
In June 2020, the group put together a comprehensive survey to gather information on the National Executive’s topic of Climate-Conscious Transport Solutions. The aim is to build a nationwide picture of why young people use / don’t use particular forms of transport and to identify what the key issues are for young people. The survey is focused on two main areas:
1. Cycling as a sustainable form of transport
2. Public transport in the form of buses
It was finalised on 26th June and circulated widely to all Comhairlí. Link to survey results here: National Executive transport survey results
Zoom meetings x 2: 17th June
Zoom meeting: 10th June
Presentation on progress and next steps
Zoom meeting: Thursday 14th May
On 14th May, they had three guest speakers from the Dept of Transport to talk to them about sustainable transport and active travel. You can read the meeting notes, with link to the two presentations, below:
20200514 Comhairle na nÓg presentation
Comhairle na nÓg Transport and Climate and Air Quality
Zoom meeting 7th May:
On Thursday 7th May they participated in a Zoom session on urban cycling which included a presentation and Q&A with Deirdre Kelly, Cycling and Walking Officer with Dublin City Council. Her role is to promote cycling and walking across the city. This includes supporting community engagement, and organising events and initiatives to increase the levels of cycling and walking in Dublin.
Here are notes from this very interactive and interesting meeting with link to Deirdre’s presentation below:
National Executive meeting notes 7th may 2020
Deirdre Kelly presentation May 2020
Zoom meetings: 28th and 30th April
National Exec catch ups – meeting notes April 2020
MEETING 2: 29.02.2020
Meeting newsletter 2 29.02.2020
Presentation by Margaret Malone, Rural Transport Programme Manager from the National Transport Authority.
Local Link presentation
INFO VIDEO ABOUT LOCAL LINK IN GALWAY
Information on Youth Justice Climate Fund
Consultation YP – Youth Climate Justice Fund – Comhairle na nÓg
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MEETING I: 25.01.2020
Meeting newsletter 1 25.01.2020
