Fingal’s Comhairle na nÓg visits the Council Chamber

This week, Fingal’s Comhairle na nÓg visited the Council Chamber for a meeting with the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Tom O’Leary, ,and the Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly.  Representatives from the group delivered an informative presentation on the Comhairle na nÓg structure and their annual work to the Mayor and the Chief Executive. 

Comhairle na nÓg is the official representative body for the voice of young people in Fingal and is made up of representatives for schools and communities throughout the county. There is a youth council established in each of the 31 local authority areas across Ireland, which aim to enable young people aged 12 to 17 to exercise their rights in influencing decision-makers on the topics most important to them. The Comhairle is supported by Fingal’s Community Development and Inclusion department and Foróige, the youth service who have operated the Comhairle since 2018. 

The groups presentation was followed by an hour-long Question and Answers session, which was facilitated by the Mayor. The group had a topical discussion on young people’s access to social media and the best approaches to ensure safety online for young people. Other conversation topics covered throughout the meeting included anti-social behaviour, development of towns and villages across Fingal, the need for training in schools around racism, as well as the development of active travel routes across Fingal County Council. 

This meeting has become a key event in the Fingal Comhairle na nÓg’s calendar. It also demonstrates the strong working relationship between Fingal County Council and the Comhairle na nÓg members, by encouraging their participation  and engagement with consultations and programmes carried out by Fingal.  

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Tom O’Leary commented ‘The annual visit by Fingal’s Comhairle na nÓg is always a highlight on our calendar. The insight, energy, and honesty that these young people bring to discussions is invaluable. Their perspectives challenge us to think differently and help shape policies that better reflect the needs of young people across our county. We are proud to support a forum that empowers youth voices and strengthens their role in local decision-making.’

Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly added: 

‘Fingal’s Comhairle na nÓg plays an important role in shaping how we design services and engage with young people, and I want to acknowledge the work of the Council teams who support this partnership throughout the year. Today’s meeting highlighted just how valuable it is to have young people directly informing our thinking on issues such as online safety, community development, and active travel. Their insights help guide our departments as we plan programmes, develop policies, and strengthen our consultation work. We are committed to ensuring that the voices of young people remain at the centre of our approach, and we look forward to continuing this strong and constructive collaboration.’