Five young people from Kilkenny travel to Dáil na nÓg 2024

Over 160 young delegates from Comhairle na nÓg (local youth councils) across Ireland recently met in Dáil Éireann to debate the critical issue of mental health, one of the biggest topics of concern to young people in Ireland, particularly since the pandemic.

Mental health was identified by over 3,000 young people across Comhairle na nÓg as their priority issue for discussion in advance of the day, which they feel that the Government should do more to address.  

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman has thanked the Ceann Comhairle and the Houses of the Oireachtas Citizen Engagement Team for working with his Department to make Dáil na nÓg 2024 happen.

"I know that Minister Foley and her officials have engaged very positively with the outgoing National Executive on their topic of Relationships and Sexuality education," he said. 

"I am also grateful to Minister Butler for attending to hear directly about the mental health issue selected by all the Comhairlí na nÓg for debate by their delegates to Dáil na nÓg.

"The incoming National Executive will work on this issue over their two year term, and the support of Minister Butler and officials in the Department of Health will be a critical element in the impact they can have."

Dáil na nÓg, Ireland’s National Youth Parliament, now in its 22nd year, tackled a range of issues related to mental health, including body image, school stress, and mental health services.

The biennial parliament, which provides a platform for young people to speak about and make recommendations on the issues that most affect them, was hosted by the Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, who chaired the Opening Session in the Dáil Chamber.

There were closing remarks in the chamber from Minister of State for Mental Health & Older People, Mary Butler.

Delegates from Comhairle na nÓg - representing each of the 31 local authorities across Ireland – filled the committee rooms in Leinster House where they took part in workshops to debate the three mental health topics.

Discussions were held around how mental health affects the lives of young people in their communities and what changes need to be implemented to address these challenges and improve the experiences of young people in Ireland.

Following a formal vote in the afternoon where delegates processed through the lobbies of the Dáil, school stress was selected as the priority topic.

This will inform the work of the incoming Comhairle na nÓg National Executive 2024-2026, who are tasked with advocating for policy change in this area during their tenure.

Dáil na nÓg is organised by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in association with members of Houses of the Oireachtas and Government.

Dáil na nÓg is an initiative of the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and was first established in 2001.

The topic of school stress voted on at Dáil na nÓg will form the basis of the incoming Comhairle na nÓg National Executive’s formal workplan for the next two years.

The National Executive is made up of one representative from each of the 31 Comhairlí na nÓg and follows up on the recommendations from Dáil na nÓg to make changes for young people in those areas.

The National Executive has a term of office of two years and meets once a month, and is facilitated and supported by the National Participation Office and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth who ensure that they get the opportunity to engage with appropriate Ministers, policy-makers, Oireachtas Committees and other decision-makers.