Cllr Ronan Moore has welcomed Meath’s Comhairle na nÓg’s contribution at the February County Council meeting and has outlined his full support for their grand ambition for a centralised youth premises for young people in the county.
He made his comments following a presentation by Meath’s Comhairle, who are the Youth Council in the county, giving children and young people the opportunity to be involved in the development of local services and policies.
Cllr Moore is the chair of the Comhairle na nÓg Steering Committee and had brought a motion to before Christmas inviting them to speak to their adult peers in the council on an annual basis.
He said:
“I am always hugely impressed with the ability of our young people to articulate their ideas. Today was no exception. We heard Marguerite and Emily clearly outlining how Meath’s Comhairle will try to progress their two-year thematic area of focus – ‘increasing youth facilities’ – in the county.
“Both speakers gave several ideas to help achieve this, including creating and promoting an inventory of existing youth facilities within the county. However, I believe their grandest ambition – the creation of a centralised youth premises – is vital. The overwhelming support that other councillors voiced on the matter shows that this sentiment is shared.
“Having introduced a motion in our recent County Draft Development Plan on the matter, this is something that is already close to my heart. I think it is really telling that Meath’s young people also recognise this need. If we look to neighbouring counties in Louth or Dublin Fingal, we can see several examples of such centralised youth premises.
“I have spoken about the benefits of centralised youth premises before. They help promote cross-pollination of ideas amongst inter-related services aimed at young people. They assist such groups to access and leverage co-funding opportunities by submitting group funding applications for such services as printing, IT, administration and HR. They can have a multiplier effect in helping outreach youth services across the county.
“As a result, I hope the Comhairle will continue to progress this and indeed their other ideas. And in doing so, help to further increase youth facilities throughout the county.”
February 5, 2021