Sir, - Electoral and political reform are currently at the centre of political debate. One particular example of change is the establishment of strategic policy committees by local authorities across the country. These will deal with various issues of importance and represent a new departure in local government.
A unique aspect will be the involvement of non-councillors from interests such as business, the environment, farming, construction, trade unions and the community and voluntary sector.
This is particularly welcome, but it comes against a backdrop of major problems with youth representation in local government. Before Christmas, the National Youth Council of Ireland published a report on the 1999 local elections. The major finding was that two in every three voters under 25 years of age did not vote.
Local authorities make decisions that affect young people in many different ways, but this relevance may not always be directly apparent. With this in mind the NYCI is encouraging local youth organisations to apply for membership of the new Strategic Policy Committees and to take an interest in their work.
We also urge local authorities to make youth representation a priority. This could be done by including "youth" in the title of one of their committees, by having for example, a "community, social and youth committee". There should also be youth representation on the committee dealing with services and facilities for young people. - Yours, etc., James Doorley,
President, National Youth Council of Ireland, Montague Street, Dublin 2.