Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has today launched, Life as a Child and Young Person in Ireland: Report of a National Consultation.

This consultation was conducted in April 2011 and was completed by 66,705 children and young people across the State.

Minister Fitzgerald stated: “This report documents the views of 66,705 children and young people and is the biggest public consultation with children and young people ever conducted in Ireland.  The last time such a consultation took place, back in 1999, ahead of preparations for the National Children’s Strategy, there were only 825 responses from children and young people. More remarkably, I note that there are over 4,000 schools in Ireland, and some 38% of these participated in the consultation.”

The Minister added that “the scale of this consultation demonstrates the commitment of this Government, of my Department and I to listen to the views of children and young people. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I encourage children and young people to play an active role in civic society and this Report is an example of such engagement.

The Minister commented that her Department’s Citizen's Participation Unit have become world-leaders in the field of consulting with children and young people.

Responding to the Report findings, Minister Fitzgerald stated: “The findings of this consultation provide an interesting insight into contemporary Irish childhood and youth.”

Education emerged a key issue in the consultation with children and young people expressing satisfaction with the Irish education system. However 22% of children and 27% of young people also indicated that they would like to change some aspect of the education system. In particular, young people highlighting concerns such as the need for a greater emphasis on science facilities and better use of technology in schools.

The findings of this consultation will inform development of the new Children and Young People’s Policy Framework which is currently being prepared by my Department. The Minister stated that “the new Policy Framework will represent a dynamic and forward-looking Government Strategy for Ireland’s Children and Young People” and she added that “the views of the nearly 67,000 children and young people who engaged in this consultation will help shape this Framework”.
Written by Donal Walsh

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