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06 Nov 2024 
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About
Empowering the young people of Ireland to help shape our country
Who we are
Comhairle na nÓg directly involves children and young people in evolving local and national services and policies.
Comhairle na nÓg child and youth councils operate in each of the 31 Local Authority areas across Ireland. Funded and managed by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), the councils enable young people aged 12-17 to exercise their right in influencing decision-makers on the topics most important to them.
Consult Young People
When developing new policies, improving services, or making planning decisions that will impact young people in their communities, local and national agencies can consult with Comhairle na nÓg child and youth councils to get the opinions and inputs of those same young people.
This is massively beneficial when the decisions relate to issues important to them such as mental health awareness or facilities for young people. Consultations can take the form of face-to-face meetings with young Comhairle members, focus groups, surveys, and more.
Comhairle na nÓg operates in each of the 31 Local Authority areas
There are Comhairle na nÓg child and youth councils in all 31 local authorities of the country. These Comhairlí give children and young people all over Ireland a vital say in how the local services and policies impacting them are developed.
Empowering 12-17 year olds with an input on the decisions being made
With under-18s unable to vote, Comhairle na nÓg child and youth councils give them a powerful forum to have their voices not only heard, but their rights, views and opinions taken on board in the creation and change of the policies and services affecting them.
Over 800 young people are members
In 2022 alone, 853 young people were elected to Comhairle na nÓg to work on projects across key topics such as climate change, mental health and wellbeing, discrimination and equality, education, drugs and alcohol, and safe communities. Today there are many more providing youth consultation at local and national level.
Providing youth with a voice in the decisions that matter
Now a critical component in Ireland’s democratic system, Comhairle na nÓg child and youth councils give young people a hand in how policies are shaped, having taken part in over 40 consultations in 2020 and making 33 presentations to local and national decision-makers.
Our Team
Our people are passionate about safeguarding the rights of young people and ensuring their voices are represented.
Stephanie Cook
Senior Youth Participation Officer (National Participation Office)
Niamh Drumm
Executive Officer
Coleen Estenzo
Clerical Officer
Renagh Hayden
Participation Manager (National Participation Office)
Siobhán Hennessy
Senior Participation Officer (National Participation Office)
Sinéad Kennedy
Communications Officer
Amanda McLoughlin
Assistant Principal
Kevin McMahon
Youth Participation Officer (National Participation Office)
Bairbre Meaney
Principal Officer
Aidan O’Hara
Higher Executive Officer
Anna Perho
Participation Administrator (National Participation Office)
Rebecca Price
Participation Officer (National Participation Office)
