Young delegates take over the Dáil to share their vision for Irish education
Leinster House played host to a new kind of authority today as young people’s voices were heard through Dáil na nÓg.
Dáil na nÓg is the national youth parliament which saw over 170 young delegates from 31 youth councils around the country discuss and vote on issues of national and local importance. Run through Comhairle na nÓg , it acts as an opportunity for the political voices of tomorrow to command the ear of today’s leaders.
Each year, secondary school students between the ages of 12 and 18 gather to debate a particular subject. This year, the young delegates explored education as they addressed topics such as the importance of the Irish language, continuous assessment, and child poverty. Not only does this allow their voices to be heard, but their output will be submitted to the Convention on Education for their deliberations.
Ahead of the debates, Dublin City Comhairle na nÓg’s representative incoming National Executive Aaron Kiernan caught up with Dublin Live outside the Dáil to discuss the importance of the council. A Ballyfermot native, Aaron explained his passion for politics and the way it intersects with the lives of all young people in Ireland.
“It’s about making a change to our country for the future, not only for our generation but for generations to come,” he said.
Aaron explained that 174 delegates voted to discuss issues like the Irish language and its role in the future of education, as well as promoting its use in everyday life. As something that connects people with their national heritage, he believes the importance of Irish shouldn’t be undermined.
“The Irish language is our language and we have the opportunity to give it a new life, not drag it through the mud like has been done since the founding of our state over 100 years ago,” he said.
“Especially in English medium schools most of us feel we are being left behind compared to students in a Gaelscoil. I believe the Irish curriculum should be broken into two subjects. The Irish spoken language and then literature, poems and novels, that kind of stuff.
“I’d like to emphasise the importance of the Irish language. We can either vote to give it a new life that people want to learn and promote, or the other option is to let it die in vain.”
Aaron first got involved with Comhairle na nÓg in his first year of secondary school after attending their Annual General Meeting (AGM) and saw first-hand the impact young people can have on national politics. From there he’s debated former Lord Mayor Daithí de Róiste, contributed to the ‘What’s the Story, Dublin?’ podcast, and even become chairperson of Dublin City Comhairle na nÓg.
With a passion for politics, Aaron serves as a true representation of Dáil na nÓg’s ambition to empower young people and he says he’s determined to devote his life to public service and highlighted importance of “giving our young people the best opportunities in life” and “making sure everybody in our nation can live a happy life.”
“I’d like to be a diplomat and a politician,” he said. “I believe that corresponding and engaging with other nations is vital so we can learn from each other, build bridges, and communicate with each other.”
One of the major topics for discussion at Dáil na nÓg 2026 is child poverty , and Aaron’s group are focusing on breakfast clubs in schools. “Especially in the inner city, there are plenty of disadvantaged communities, some might not have access to a nutritious and filling breakfast,” he said.
By getting topics like this on the agenda, Dáil na nÓg shines a light on the issues most directly affecting young people and forces national politicians to sit up and listen. “Politics is vital and important because decision makers are making decisions for a future that they are not going to live through and it’s important we have a voice for our future,” Aaron said.
Following a formal vote in the afternoon where delegates processed through the lobbies of the Dáil, their priority topic was voted on. These issues will be submitted directly to the Convention on Education for consideration, highlighting a key priority for young people in Ireland.
Other topics of discussion at Dáil na nÓg include reforms to the relationship and sexual education curriculum, creating resources for Our Voices, Our Schools and school and exam stress. The biennial parliament, which provides a platform for young people to speak about and make recommendations on the issues that most affect them, was hosted by the Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy, who chaired the opening session in the Dáil Chamber.
“It is a great privilege to welcome young people into Dáil Éireann. The Dáil Chamber is at the heart of our democracy, and it is vital that young people have the opportunity to bring their voices directly into it,” Ms Murphy said.
"In an increasingly polarised and online world, it is encouraging to see young people from all backgrounds come together in person to engage respectfully and constructively with one another on the issues that affect their lives.
“The level of insight and thoughtfulness shown by delegates today is a powerful reminder of the role young people play in shaping the future of our society. I commend all of the young people involved for their contributions today and hope it will play a valuable role in informing national policy."
Minister of State for Disability, Emer Higgins also spoke, highlighting that the discussions of the delegate will inform the Convention on Education. “It’s really clear from the discussions here today that young people are key to identifying the issues that affect their lives on a daily basis, and it’s important that as a government, we take the time to listen and learn from those valuable insights,” she said.
Dáil na nÓg is organised by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in association with members of Houses of the Oireachtas and Government. Further information on Dáil na nÓg and the work of Comhairle na nÓg is available at www.comhairlenanog.ie .
This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme