Vol. 553 No. 5
290 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the total amount available nationally to enable a children's council or Comhairle na nÓg to be set up in each city and county; the progress to date in the preparation and setting up of such councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14477/02]
The first national goal of the National Children's Strategy is "Children will have a voice in matters which affect them and their views will be given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity". Key measures under this goal include the establishment of a national Dáil na nÓg and local Comhairle na nÓg, where children can raise and debate issues of concern to them.
The first Dáil na nÓg was held on 5 September 2001 in the Mansion House, Dublin. More than 240 children between the ages of eight years and 17 years, representative of every county and socio-economic group attended. The Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, attended Dáil na nÓg to observe this historic inaugural session, and to listen to participants speaking about the issues relevant to their lives. It is proposed to hold the second Dáil na nÓg in October 2002. Some 200 children will be invited to attend from every county in Ireland and drawn from a range of socio-economic groups.
The city and county development boards have a lead role in the co-ordination of the implementation of the National Children's Strategy at a local level. This includes ensuring that children are given a voice at a local level through appropriate structures, which can include Comhairle na nÓg. The national children's office, which is responsible for the co-ordination of the implementation of the National Children's Strategy at a national level, is encouraging the city and county development boards to hold Comhairle na nÓg and is offering any assistance or advice required.
The Comhairle na nÓg has two purposes: to give children a voice in their local community in line with the first goal of the National Children's Strategy and to select local delegates for the next Dáil na nÓg. Total funding of €100,000 is available for the Comhairle na nÓg in 2002. A grant of €2,500 will be awarded from this budget to each city or county development board which holds a Comhairle na nÓg in 2002. The first Comhairle na nÓg which was held in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and acted as a model for the other Comhairle na nÓg was fully funded from this budget.
Some 20 of the city or county development boards have already held a Comhairle na nÓg in 2002 and most of the other city or county development boards are in the process of organising one. Many of the city or county development boards are also examining the most appropriate structures which should be put in place within their area to ensure that children are given a voice on an ongoing basis. The Minister with responsibility for children and the national children's office will continue to work with the city and county development boards to ensure that Comhairle na nÓg or other acceptable structures are set up in every city and county development board area. Additional funding is being sought by the national children's office to fund the Comhairle na nÓg in 2003 and future years.
