Children and Young People’s Forum
The OMCYA Children and Young People’s Forum (CYPF) was established in 2004 to act as a reference panel and advise the OMCYA and the Minister for Children on issues of concern to children and young people. There are 35 young people on the Forum aged 12 – 18 years, from all over the country. They are nominated to the CYPF through Comhairle na nÓg and organisations representing seldom-heard children/young people. Four representatives from the Forum are members of the National Children’s Advisory Council.
The CYPF has been an invaluable resource to the OMCYA and its members have been consulted on, or been involved in many initiatives including:
• The design and content of the national recreation policy
• The development of student council resources
• Tender evaluation committees for relevant projects
• Health service provision for teenagers
• The Mid Term Review of the National Children's Strategy
• The design and content of www.teenspace.ie
• The development of child and youth-friendly versions of the UNCRC
• Supporting national consultations with teenagers on alcohol misuse and mental health
