Kilkenny Comhairle na nÓg

Kilkenny Comhairle na nÓg is a young person's council that represents 12-18 year olds in Kilkenny and gives them a voice in informing local policy and decision making. It aims to provide an opportunity for young people in this age range to identify the issues that are important to them, discuss some of the changes they would like to see and bring forward ideas and suggestions for making change happen.

Kilkenny Comhairle na nÓg is made up of 25 young representatives across the four Municipal District Electoral areas in County Kilkenny - Castlecomer (North), Piltown (South), Kilkenny City East and Kilkenny City West. These young people are elected at an AGM in October of each year. The Comhairle meets on average once every three weeks.

Comhairle na nÓg is a national initiative stemming from the National Children's Strategy 2000. It is led and funded at national level by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. At local level responsibility rests with Kilkenny County Council who is responsible for administration of the funding and co-ordinating an Inter-Agency Steering Committee. This committee supports and guides the development and work of the Comhairle. Agencies represented on the Kilkenny Steering Committee include Kilkenny County Council, Kilkenny Education and Training Board, Health Services Executive - Health Promotion Department, Ossory Youth, Foróige, Kilkenny LEADER Partnership. Comhairle members also sit on this committee. The DCYA liaise closely with the committee. Foroige facilitate and support the development of the Comhairle on behalf of Kilkenny County Council.

Every year, Comhairle na nÓg members are invited to participate in Dáil na nÓg, the annual national youth forum that helps inform national policy.

For further information and to find out how you can get involved in Kilkenny Comhairle na nÓg log onto http://www.comhairlenanog.ie/local-comhairle/kilkenny/

Or contact
David Lee
Kilkenny County Council
Community and Culture Section, Johns Green House, Johns Green, Kilkenny
Email: david.lee@kilkennycoco.ie
Tel: 056 7794996