Students gave presentations about housing, mental health and shared their lived experiences on issues
A GROUP of eight pupils from Pobalscoil Iosolde in Palmerstown gave a series of inspiring presentations in the Dáil last Wednesday, May 11.
Editorial written by Aideen O Flaherty ,The Echo, Thursday, May 19, 2022
The students gave presentations about housing and mental health as part of the ‘For a Brighter Tomorrow; Youth Voices on the Future of Ireland’ event, run by Inspiring the Future Ireland.All of the students, Amber Anderson, Jaiden Grant McCreevey, Emily Greene, Jodie Larrissy, Halle McDonnell, Jake Kershaw, Carson Salinger and Eve Barton, are currently in Transition Year.
Inspiring the Future Ireland encourages young people to look at a variety of career options and to take inspiration from others’ career paths. Katie O’Neill from the South Dublin County Partnership, which runs the local Inspiring the Future initiative, said: “These students made excellent presentations, shared their lived experiences on these issues, and outlined solutions that will lead to real action in their lives and communities.
“Proceedings were led by Senator Eileen Flynn, who remarked that the group were as good, if not better, at public speaking than those who do so every day in the Dáil.”
The attendees for the presentations included Senator Flynn, Minister Joe O’Connor, Deputy Paul Murphy, Senator Gerard Craughwell, and Mayor of South Dublin County Peter Kavanagh. Mayor Kavanagh was so impressed by the students’ impactful presentations that he invited them to give a talk in the South Dublin County Council chamber at a later date.
Representatives from Google, Amazon and Bank of America were also in attendance for the presentations, as were a number of South Dublin County councillors. Ms O’Neill added: “The group had a tour of the Dáil and even had a chance to sit in on a live session and observe the Taoiseach taking questions from his colleagues.
“One of the young people decided ‘I’m going to be the first female Taoiseach!’. Moments like these are at the heart of our programme.Our aim is to expose young people to the very real possibilities and choices they can make to engage in their careers and life success.” – Katie O Neill
The group had a tour of the Dáil and even had a chance to sit in on a live session and observe the Taoiseach take questions from his colleagues. One of the young people decided “I’m going to be the first female Taoiseach!”
