31 youth councils across the country
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What We Do
The core programme of Comhairle na nÓg centres on young people identifying, prioritising and progressing topics important to them.
Our members then try to influence local decision-makers to achieve their desired outcome, impact or change.
Comhairle na nÓg Annual General Meetings
Every Comhairle na nÓg holds an Annual General Meeting in September or October, to which children and young people are invited from local schools and youth groups. Attendance at AGMs ranges from 80 -150 young people, depending on the size of the city or county.
At the AGM, the young people work on identifying the topics of most importance to them.
A Comhairle na nÓg Committee is also elected (or sometimes selected) at the AGM. This committee is responsible for working on the topics identified at the AGM and being the consultative forum that works with decision-makers.
How are young people’s voices heard through Comhairle na nÓg?
The Comhairle na nÓg gets young people’s voices heard in two ways: working on young people’s topics; and acting as a consultative forum.
Working on young people’s topics:
One of the most important aspects of Comhairle na nÓg is that is allows young people to select and work on topics of importance to young people locally. Examples of the topics selected by young people include: mental health awareness and services for young people, facilities for young people, how young people are treated by the adult world and homophobic bullying.
The work of the Comhairle na nÓg on these topics includes: getting the views of other young people, doing background research, meeting with local decision-makers, developing surveys, organising meetings, making videos, producing leaflets or posters, developing online materials and other activities. This work culminates in the Comhairle na nÓg members seeking to make an impact or change to improve the lives of young people.
Consultative forum:
The other important aspect of the work of the Comhairle na nÓg is being a consultative forum, for adult decision-makers in the locality. Increasingly, local agencies use the Comhairle na nÓg as a mechanism to get the views of young people on the development of relevant services and policies, such as heritage plans, play and recreation policies, policing plans, giving feedback on youth-friendly questionnaires, giving feedback on the location or type of new sports facility to be established in the area. Comhairlí na nÓg are often asked for (or volunteer) formal submissions on local policies or to take part in public consultations.