Well done Emma Murray (6th year) who has been invited to be part of the Rural Youth Assembly. The establishment of an annual Rural Youth Assembly is a key commitment in ‘Our Rural Future’, the Rural Development Policy for 2021 – 2025. The policy provides a framework to set out a vision for rural Ireland and contains over 150 measures for delivery over the lifetime of the policy, for both short-term recovery and longer-term development. The Rural Youth Assembly aims to give young people an opportunity to have their say on life in rural Ireland and to make recommendations to improve life for young people in rural Ireland. The Rural Youth Assembly recognises that young people are best placed to give their views on how to progress rural development. They want to find out what would keep and attract young people to live and work in different rural areas.
Why do they want to hear young people’s views?
By hearing from young people and children, this project will allow insight into some of the concerns facing young people and assist in the identification of potential solutions and actions. The Rural Youth Assembly will act as a vehicle for dialogue and will assist in the development of proposals or recommendations which can be explored as possible measures for inclusion in future annual Work Programmes to be delivered under the policy. The Department of Rural and Community Development have made a commitment to engage with Government officials on the potential to act on the young people’s recommendations.