Five Sligo students take part in Dáil na nÓg debate at Leinster House

Over 160 young people from 31 Comhairle na nÓg across Ireland came together in the Dáil Chamber to debate a range of issues related to youth mental health, body image, school stress and mental health services.

Mental Health was identified as the priority issue for discussion by more than 3000 young people across local youth councils as it is one of the biggest topics of concern to young people in Ireland, particularly since the pandemic.

Eoin O’Connon, Ruth Bradley, Callum Scott, Alfie Barron and Aibhe McCrann are the five delegates who went to Dáil na nÓg to represent the young people of Sligo.

One of the representatives, Callum Scott, is a transition year student who spoke about the stress being generated in students due to the leaving cert point inflation.

He said: “People are worried seeing the points go higher and higher as it went from 400 to 500 or 600 and students don’t want to be seen as those numbers.

“There is no interview process in many places, and they cannot send a Statement of Purpose or a CV, so they are recognised by just those numbers and lots of people are worried about that.”

Talking about his experience at the Dáil and participation in the debates he said: “This meeting broke down the wall that a lot of young people find between them, and the government, and it made everything feel accessible.

“Just by listening to people’s point of views, you get to learn a lot. When it comes to mental health services there is just a lack of them in lots of rural areas like Sligo, Kerry and other such places.

“The waiting lines to avail those services are longer than six months or more and sometimes people are not taking it seriously to avail the mental health services.

“Then we look at how the age of people worrying about problems like body images are getting younger and younger.

“Some people have seen their younger siblings even at the age of seven years worrying about what they look like, what shape they are in, and it is just horrible.”

School stress was voted the priority topic that will inform the work of the incoming Comhairle na nÓg National Executive 2024-2026.

“The biggest stress is over the points inflation as what’s happening is when people apply to different courses, they get worried as the points are getting higher and higher.

“It’s such a massive problem and it demands so much more time to find solutions.

“I think that joining the youth council makes people feel a sense of control, like they can make a difference on issues that they care about which is really important to a lot of young people.”

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

It provides a forum where children and young people raise and debate issues of concern to them and influence the development of public policy.

This year’s Dáil na nÓg was hosted by Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Feargháil in presence of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’ Gorman and Minister of State for Mental Health & Older People Mary Butler.

Minister O’Gorman said: “I thank the Ceann Comhairle and the Houses of the Oireachtas Citizen Engagement Team for working with my 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.

“I am also grateful to Minister Butler for attending today 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.”

He further added said: “This youth parliament convenes every two years and is an important way for members of the Houses of the Oireachtas and Government to hear directly from children and young people on the priority issues that need to be addressed.

“I have been very happy to support and promote the voice of children and young people in Government decision-making and applaud the young people who have come here today to advance this important work.”

In her closing remarks to the delegates Minister Mary Butler said: “I was really pleased today to listen and engage with 160 articulate young people across all 31 Comhairle na nÓg.

“The voice of younger people must be heard and listened to, particularly on issues such as youth mental health. I want to thank each and every one of these young people for the valuable contributions they are making to society.

“As advocates representing young people across Ireland, I have heard your voices today and I share your vision for improvement and progress, especially in relation to signposting services that are available for young people to support their emotional wellbeing and to support positive mental health.

“I am familiar with the fantastic work that Comhairle na nÓg do. Our young people are the future leaders and it great to see them here in the Dáil chamber today discussing such an important topic.”