Views of young people heard in Croke Park

Two hundred young delegates, aged from 12-17, took part in the recent Dáil na nÓg conference at Croke Park, to discuss and vote on recommendations for action on access to education and mental health.Delegates are elected to Dáil na nÓg by their local Comhairle na nÓg throughout the country.The top three recommendations on mental health voted by delegates were:1. The Irish Government should enforce a law that all altered advertisements/images must indicate that they have been altered by means of a symbol and text.2. Department of Education should provide adequate funding for a designated person, not directly involved in teaching, to offer confidential advice and supports for young people's positive mental health.3. Government departments should establish and fund an education group to educate 2nd and 5th year students through schools and youth clubs about depression and suicide.The top three recommendations on access to education voted by delegates were:1. The Department of Education should lengthen Leaving Cert cycle to three years and reduce the Junior Cert cycle to two years.2. A national book rental scheme should be available to all secondary schools with a standard fee for all students.3. Classes on motivation, confidence-building and exam pressures integrated into the school curriculum which are administered by an outsider.Barry Andrews TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, addressed the delegates and stated that he and the Government is committed to listening to the views of children and young people and ensuring that they are included in decision-making.The Questions and Answers session was chaired by Eddie D'Arcy, President, National Youth Council of Ireland, during which delegates sought answers from the Minister and senior policy makers on the issues discussed during the day.The panel members for the Questions and Answers session were: Barry Andrews TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs; Pat Burke, Assistant Secretary, Department of Education and Science; Tom Boland, CEO, Higher Education Authority; Professor Tom Collins, Dean of Teaching and Learning, NUI Maynooth; Derek West, National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals; James Doorley, Assistant Director National Youth Council of Ireland; Martin Rogan, Assistant National Director with responsibility for Mental Health, HSE; Geoff Day, Head of National Office for Suicide Prevention, HSE; Bairbre Nic Aongusa, Director, Office for Disability and Mental Health, Department of Health and Children; Dr. Tony Bates, CEO, Headstrong; and Dr. Brendan Doody, Clinical Director, HSE.