Tipperary council chief indicates action will be taken to increase youth council's funding

Caption for photo above: Tipperary Comhairle na nÓg representatives Niamh Brennan and Olivia D’Arcy pictured with Cllrs Máirín McGrath and Declan Burgess at Tipperary County Council’s January meeting in Clonmel where the two delegates gave a presentation before the elected council on the work of the youth council.

Tipperary County Council’s Chief Executive has indicated action will be taken to increase the funding of the county’s Comhairle na nÓg after two of its senior officers highlighted how rising costs have made it difficult to run the young council’s affairs.

The financial challenges the 40-member youth council for young people under the age of 18 is facing to cover its running costs were highlighted by South Tipperary Comhairle na nÓg Chairperson Olivia D’Arcy and Vice-Chairperson Niamh Brennan in a presentation they gave at Tipperary County Council’s January meeting.

The Comhairle delegates’' presentation described to the council the varied work Comhairle na nÓg members have done since the Covid pandemic to in the areas of mental health and health awareness and to highlight the views of the county’s young people in the development of local services and policies such as the Council’s new Climate Action Policy.

But the teenagers pointed out that the rising cost of transport, food and booking venues for meetings of the Comhairle were challenges the youth council is facing.

They pointed out that Comhairle na nÓg’s budget hasn’t increased to allow for these increased costs and noted that Tipperary is a huge county with attendance at meetings requiring long trips.

Tipperary County Council’s two youngest councillors Declan Burgess of Fine Gael and Independent Cllr Mairín McGrath called at the meeting for more funding for Tipperary Comhairle na nÓg.

Cllr Burgess is a past chairperson of the former South Tipperary Comhairle na nÓg while Cllr McGrath chaired the first all-Tipperary Comhairle na nÓg in 2014/15. She is currently a member of the younth council’s Steering Group.

Cllr Burgess said he was glad the Comhairle na nÓg delegates mentioned the rising costs of operating the council and urged Council management to take action as it was so important to support the voices of the county’s young people.

Cllr McGrath agreed. She didn’t think the budget for Comhairle na nÓg had increased since she was on the council in 2014/15.
“We are all very aware of the costs of inflation and hugely aware of how big a county this is. We really need to increase the level of funding to Comhairle,” she said.

Council CEO Joe MacGrath said he heard very clearly the Comhairle representatives comments about costs and gave a commitment to address their concerns.

“We will talk to management about that and see what we can do. I know the costs are very small but they are important to you. We wouldn't like to see it as an impediment to you in your work,” he said.

Ms D’Arcy and Ms Brennan, meanwhile, impressed the elected council with their presentation on the work of Comhairle na nÓg since the Covid pandemic restrictions were lifted in 2022.

They detailed the findings of a survey called “How are things in Tipp? Tipperary Youth Survey” that Comhairle conducted with 81 young people after the pandemic.

The survey found that 68.9% of respondents felt that being in lockdown had between a moderate and great deal of impact on them while 43% said the restrictions were very difficult to deal with.

Two thirds of respondents couldn’t avail of mental health services or support during the lockdowns while 78.9% weren’t confident about employment or opportunities in the future.

Ms D’Arcy and Ms Brennan outlined various health and mental health promotion projects Comhairle na nÓg has undertaken.

They rang from its online Tipp CNN Well Being badge competition, a body image event in Cahir and awareness campaign about sexuality and consent that was nominated for an award to attending a national mental health awareness event and supporting people of diverse backgrounds and identities.

Comhairle members chose raising awareness of the dangers of vaping and illegal drugs as their next big campaign at the 2023 AGM.

The council is currently drawing up a work plan for this campaign.

Another important aspect of the youth council’s work the presentation highlighted was the advocacy role it plays as the voice of the county’s young people in public consultations on local services, policies and issues.

Comhairle, for example, recently made a submission to Tipperary County Council’s draft Climate Action Plan.

Comhairle na nÓg members also meet with Tipperary County Council’s CEO once a year at one of their meetings hosted in the council’s chamber.

After the presentation, Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Ger Darcy and Council CEO Joe MacGrath praised the work of Comhairle na nÓg and paid tribute to the two delegates on their professionalism. “I feel you are going to go a long way,” Cllr Darcy told them.

Cllr McGrath congratulated the Comhairle representatives on the council's very well organised 2023 AGM attended by more than 100 students and where an online voting platform was used for its election.