OVER 12,000 young people will go to the polls next week for the third Donegal Youth Council Comhairle Na nÓg elections.
Students attending 26 secondary schools and six Youthreach centres will use their vote to elect their peers who are standing for election.
A total of 59 candidates are campaigning for 36 seats on the new youth council throughout all 6 electoral areas of the County. The youth councillors will serve a two-year term of office to 2008.
Once elected, the Youth Councillors will hold regular meetings in the Council Chamber of their local Public Service Centre. During their term of office, each council in each Electoral Area will meet to identify and formulate projects in response to issues raised by their constituents.
Mr Paddy Hannigan is Donegal Youth Council Co-ordinator. He said the Youth Council provides a unique opportunity for issues to be debated, ensuring that young people are truly involved in the local democratic decision making process.
"The Donegal Youth Council Comhairle Na nÓg has developed over the past few years as an effective voice for young people in dealing with issues that concern them. They are represented on a wide range of committees and agencies and have been instrumental in the production of the Donegal Youth Survey 2005, a partner in the annual Party In The Park Concert in Letterkenny Town Park," Mr Hannigan said.
Previous youth councils have worked on school and road transport issues, youth facilities, mental health issues for young people, road safety issues as well as campaigning and lobbying for a skateboard park in Letterkenny and working on school bus issues with VEC/Bus Eireann and Lough Swilly.
Youth councillors have brought local issues to Local Electoral Area meetings with County Councillors, participated in the Teenage Kicks Alcohol Project and produced an Employment Rights Poster.
The Youth Council also has representation on Dáil Na nÓg, Coiste Na dTeachtai and National Children's/Young People's Forum through the Office of the Minister for Children
"Candidates have undertaken training in order to maximise their vote in the schools in their electoral area. This has been conducted by outgoing youth councillors, youth council and HSE staff and supported by the Corporate Division of the Donegal County Council," Mr Hannigan said.
Elections mirror the Senior Council elections and each school/Youth reach Centre will become a polling station. Authentic ballot papers will be used, on a proportional representation basis. Polling will be conducted by Donegal County Council and Health Service Executive staff while the counts will be conducted by the Returning Officers and staff of DCC.
Throughout this process, students, teachers and parents are made fully aware of the electoral process using the single transferable voting system.
The Donegal Youth Council Comhairle Na nOg is managed by the Health Service Executive NW and Donegal County Council, in partnership, under the auspices of the Donegal County Development Board. The Comhairle is also supported by the Office of the Minister for Children.
The Timetable for the Elections is as follows: Monday 23rd Oct - Elections in Letterkenny and Milford. Tuesday 24th - Elections in Donegal and Inishowen, Count in Letterkenny and Milford. Wednesday 25th - Elections in Glenties and Stranorlar, Count in Donegal and Inishowen. Thursday 26th - Count in Glenties and Stranorlar
Counts will take place in the local Public Services Centre in each Electoral Area and in the Regional Training Centre, Stranorlar.
