Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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2749. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the Summary Report from the Rural Youth Assembly 2024 acknowledges housing as a challenge for young people living in rural areas, but housing recommendations were not included in the delegates' final list of recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44723/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The annual Rural Youth Assembly was established in 2021 under a commitment in Our Rural Future as an important forum to hear the views of young people on various issues of importance to them.

It is hosted by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, in partnership with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) and the National Participation Office (NPO). The NPO was established in 2021 to manage and coordinate activities such as the National Youth Assembly of Ireland, and other related youth participation initiatives and structures. It operates under the guidance and oversight of DCDE, who direct, oversee and support their work, and collaborate with the NPO on cross-Government engagement and other participation structures, stakeholder engagement and relationship building.

The NPO engages experienced facilitators to support the young people to develop their recommendations during the workshop discussions during the Rural Youth Assembly. The Summary Report of the event is produced by an independent Report Writer, who is contracted by the NPO, and reflects the young people's discussions, noting all of the issues raised. The report is made available to the Rural Youth Assembly delegates, and published on both my Department's and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality's websites.

While many issues are discussed during the workshops, it is the young people themselves who agree which of these issues form part of the final recommendations they wish to put forward for consideration.