Students' call for Youth Space raised at Council meeting

A 'disconnect' between second level students in Kilcullen and local politics prompted Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer to have a motion on the provision of a 'Youth Space' discussed at the recent meeting of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District, writes Brian Byrne.

The councillor had been talking with a group of TY students at the College where it became clear that they were not up to speed on how they could have issues like that raised at Council level.

"At the meeting in Mr Dowling's class, we discussed KCC budgets and how decisions are made around them," the councillor recalls. "I could have spent all day talking to them because they were so engaging. However, I was struck by how disconnected they felt to local politics. A few asked how could they raise an issue, another said 'do you mean we can just ring you when we have an issue?'. To which I answered, of course — you can contact any of your local councillors, that is what we are here for."

As the discussion progressed, the students were unanimous that a 'Youth Space' would be the most important thing Kildare County Council could deliver for them. While there are a range of facilities for younger children and for older people, for any young person not interested in sport there are 'limited options' according to Cllr O'Dwyer.

The motion asked the Council to identify potential buildings in Kilcullen which could be developed, 'where young people can meet for a game of table tennis or pool and hang out with their friends in a comfortable indoor space'. "If possible, I asked if there was a building that Kildare County Council owns or another suitable vacant building," Cllr O'Dwyer says. She was told that the Council currently didn’t own any suitable properties in Kilcullen — however they are open to working with the community to assist in any way possible.

Cllr O'Dwyer has previously asked KCC to buy the former Bank of Ireland premises for community use, and told the students that other local authorities have already purchased such former bank buildings. "Minister Humphreys recently announced a new fund for the purchase of community spaces and the Council could look into this." 
Complimenting the students on raising the issue, Cllr O'Dwyer said 'this is very much their motion'. "And it is very important that the youth in all our towns and villages have a voice in our local authority Chambers."

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