Rural Youth Assembly 2023

The third National Rural Youth Assembly was jointly convened by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) on the 3rd of October 2023, in the Hibernia Centre, Dublin Castle. The Rural Youth Assembly 2023 was opened by Joe O’Brien, Minister of State at DRCD, DCEDIY and the Department of Social Protection (DSP). The Assembly consisted of 60 delegates, 41 sitting delegates and 19 guest delegates, between the ages of 12-24 years old, including young people from the islands.

The Rural Youth Assembly focused on the civic engagement of young people in rural Ireland, in particular Community Engagement, Volunteering and Political Engagement.

The delegates attended a preparation session in advance to the Assembly and then took part in a day of discussion. The have produced nine key recommendations for the Government to consider. There are outlined below:

Political

• Lower the voting age to 16 especially in matters which affect young people in Ireland.
• Provide every rural area and island community with a dedicated youth officer who is employed and funded by the local county council.
• Increase accessible opportunities for political engagement to young people. This could be achieved through awareness raising campaigns and funding transport costs.

Volunteering

• The Department of Education should include volunteering to be made part of the school curriculum at both Junior and Senior Cycle.
• Develop a new policy or law to allow younger people to participate in volunteering opportunities that are regulated and safeguarded.
• In order to increase the opportunities for young people to volunteer, changes in transport should be made. Expand the bus routes to link rural areas to urban areas and expand the free travel scheme to all young people and provide subsidised fares across the population.

Community

• Increase funding for mental health services and supports for young people in the transition to adult services. Provide incentives for people to pursue a career in the mental health sector.
• Provide compulsory training courses in relation to supporting LGBTI+ young people for SPHE teachers. Establish and fund facilities for queer people in rural areas.
• Create free, safe, accessible spaces for young people to interact and grow in a healthy and welcoming environment e.g. parks, centres, gyms, playgrounds, pitches. This should be included in urban planning within 18 months going forward.

The National Rural Youth Assembly 2023 Report provides a detailed record of the Assembly discussions, captures the views of young people from across Ireland in relation to rural issues.

Prior to the Assembly, the Economic Social Research Institute (ESRI) presented the findings of their research Civic Participation of Young People in Rural Ireland to Assembly delegates at an online preparation session on the 23rd of September 2023. This session ensured that the delegates had sufficient information so they could form their views and put forward recommendations. Delegates heard from guest speakers:

• Professor Emer Smyth, ESRI

• Counsellor Ben Dalton O’Sullivan, Cork County Council

• Niamh Farrell, Macra na Feirme

Link to previous National Rural Youth Assembly