Junior Mayors from local schools to address Municipal District

A small deputation of students from local schools will address elected representatives from Athlone-Moate Municipal District on issues of environmental concern at a specially convened public meeting.

At a recent meeting of Athlone-Moate Municipal District, Town Mayor, Cllr Frankie Keena proposed that the Junior Mayors of both Ardnagrath NS and An Grianán NS make a brief presentation to the elected members on issues of concern to them.

The Junior Mayor Initiative, now in its eighth year, seeks to give a voice to students on local environmental matters.

"Under the Junior Mayor initiative students are given a voice to express their concerns. This is their town, these students are the future and we need to hear of any environmental concerns in particular which they may have. We have a number of schools who engage in the Junior Mayor initiative on an annual basis and it continues to go from strength to strength," Cllr Keena said.

Cllr Paul Hogan said that the invitation should be extended to all schools who are engaging in the Junior Mayor initiative.

"I have no issues with the motion but it is my view that the invitation should be extended to all the relevant schools. It is an occasion in itself to come into the Council Chamber and address the members. I am all for giving young people a voice," Cllr Hogan said.

Both Cllr John Dolan and Cllr John Gibbons said that hosting a special public meeting would be the better option as limiting the presentation to the Municipal District's monthly meeting agenda would present "time constraints".

Cllr Aengus O'Rourke stated the need to afford a dedicated period of time to the students' respective presentations.

"In that particular instance, we may be in a position to invite in school colleagues, teachers and their parents," Cllr O'Rourke said.

Cllr Keena noted that both Ardnagrath NS and An Grianán NS had made initial contact with the Municipal District executive seeking to come into the Chamber and make a presentation on "issues of concern" to the members.

"I have no qualms in hosting a special public meeting and extending the invitation to all the schools who are currently engaging in the Junior Mayor initiative. Our students need to be given a public voice," Cllr Keena concluded.