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.

who we are
who we are
who we are

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.

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What we do

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.

What we do

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.

What we do

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.

What we do

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.