Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 23 February 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs

European Year of Youth: Discussion

Mr. Mark McNulty:

I would agree with that to an extent. Invariably, there will be people who will always engage. You have that in any community group or in any community involvement. There is also outreach that takes place in member organisations of NYCI that is really well done. Sometimes it comes down to really simple solutions. Some people do not get involved because they feel like they would not be welcome. It is about saying, "This is what this involves and how you become involved in doing it”. It is, therefore, a simple thing. I have worked with organisation in the past where young people have to travel to be involved. They have to go on public transport and they just cannot afford it. If an organisation is able to afford to pay for that up front, that could change who will get involved overnight. I have seen it. Of course, there will be people and families who value that and who will become involved. Equally, there will be families that do not. The children from those families get involved anyway, because of outreach in their community, especially through youth workers.