YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE told the Irish president what their vision for Ireland is – as well as their concerns.

The Being Young and Irish Report, which was launched today at the President’s first seminar, showed that concerns about employment, the future of the economy, political reform, citizen participation and education for a full life are major priorities for the almost 800 young contributors.

The Being Young and Irish Report captures the views and offers the vision of these young people on life for them and their peers in Irish society, today as well as their proposals for the future of this country.

Questions

For Being Young and Irish 2012, President Michael D Higgins asked people aged 17-26 years to respond to three questions:

1. What is your vision for Ireland?
2. What needs to happen to make your vision possible?
3. What can you and other young people do to achieve this vision?

Report

The report, by the Centre for Social and Educational Research at Dublin Institute of Technology, quotes directly from young people’s contributions, and covers topical and sometimes challenging issues in Irish society.

It follows from contributions from young people sent to the President, as well as a number of regional workshops held during September where young people debated topics such as political accountability, employment opportunities, education systems, gender equality and sexuality, abortion, mental health and suicide.

President Higgins said:

I would like to express my deep gratitude to the young people who joined workshops, or made contributions to the consultation. By so generously sharing of themselves – their hopes, their concerns, their vision and their vulnerabilities – and by reflecting with their peers on the future of Ireland, they demonstrate the active and inclusive citizenship that is both necessary and available to transform and renew Ireland in this period of great challenge and change.

The report was produced by researchers Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) for President Higgins’ Being Young and Irish implementation group at Áras an Uachtaráin.

The DIT research team analysed and coded the 445 online and postal contributions into the most common and recurring themes, as follows:

1. Issues of employment and unemployment, enterprise and sustainable economy, social security, concern with the current economy and crisis
2. Political Reform and accountability
3. Education for life in a holistic way
4. Equality in all its aspects
5. Involvement of Young People in institutional decision making
6. Being Positive in every way
7. Health including in particular mental health
8. Community, Civil Society and solidarity
9. Identity as Irish people including taking charge of cultural and language issues

These themes were also reflected in almost 300 contributions from young people at regional workshops in Dublin, Cork, Monaghan and Galway which took place in September.

The report will make a major contribution to the ‘Take Charge of Change’ Declaration that 100 young people, acting as representatives for the wider group of those who took part in Being Young and Irish 2012, will formulate and present today to the President, senior officials and decision formers at the first Presidency Seminar in Áras an Uachtaráin.

The summary of the Being Young and Irish 2012 report in English and Irish is available to download and read now at www.president.ie.

Read: Interview: ‘There is a great anger in the country’ – President Higgins

Read: Youths tell President about being ‘Young and Irish’ in 2012>