Secondary students have their say on a variety of big issues

STUDENTS FROM all over the county gathered at Wexford County Council for the annual Comhairle na nÓg AGM recently.

Representatives from 20 County Wexford secondary schools attended the event which invited them to have their say on a series of wide-ranging issues.

The day was overseen by Comhairle National Executive Matthew Colgan, who guided the discussions and workshops.

Also in attendance on the day were Kieran Donoghue from the FDYS who spoke about their services and some of the issues facing young people.

Cllr Lisa McDonald was also in attendance, deputising for Mayor of Wexford, Cllr Tony Dempsey. She spoke about linknig the many discussions to existing and proposed policy.

In the run-up to the event, Comhairle took suggestions for topics of discussion and Comhairle coordinator Paula Kelly compiled a list which was subsequently shared with the schools so they could discuss topics in advance of the AGM.

The topics included: mental health, particularly self-harm and suicide; LGBTQ issues; Equality and Rights; young people’s relationships with the Gardai; local activities for young people; drugs and alcohol; transport; the homeless crisis; plastic bottle usage; and achieving full potential in all areas of learning.

For the duration of the morning, the schools split into groups and took part in workshops based on the topics.

Ms Kelly said the aim of the workshops was to identify the topics where students could have the most impact, and actions that could make a difference.

At the end of the event, about 15 new members were voted into the Comhairle group.

The current Comhairle na nÓg committee pictured with Cllr Lisa McDonald. Eoin Dempsey and Ciara Murphy from Ramsgrange Community School. Ellah Simpson and Caoimhe Radford from Gorey Community School. Anthony Ricci, Elissa Murphy and Emin Argoy from Enniscorthy Vocational College.

John Joe Murphy, Ryan Basele, Aoife Kavanagh from Bunclody Vocational College with Alan Foley and Eliajh Grocock from CBS Enniscorthy. Robert Campbell, Hugh Turner and John Sunderland from St Peter’s College.

Rebecca Stafford, Gary Sinnott and Trinity Ruddock from Bridgetown College. Stuart Rossiter, Ethan D’Arcy, Grainne Ní Ailín and Matthew Molloy from Meanscoil Gharman. Isobel Kavanagh, Ailbhe Tierney and Julia Dziadek from Colaiste Bride Enniscorthy.

Tara Doyle, Elaine Quigley and Kerrie Tracey from St Mary’s New Ross. Sophia Kehoe, Leah Ryan and Rebecca Donovan from FDYS Wexford.