Plan to develop ‘hanging out centres’ for teens
The centres will be different to youth clubs and community centres, which young people felt didn't work for them.
The move comes after a survey of teenagers showed that four out of five of them spend their evenings "hanging around outside" because they believe there are not enough leisure provisions in their area. Nine out of 10 also list it as a hobby.
The findings were published yesterday in a report commissioned by the National Children's Office on the barriers to and supports for leisure facilities for young people.
It shows that teenagers become less involved in sports as they get older 96% of 12-year-olds play sports but this drops to 77% for 18-year-olds.
Those surveyed cited lack of time as one of the reasons for not participating in sport. Transport difficulties are also a barrier, especially for teenagers living in rural areas.
It also found low self-esteem and a poor body image is linked to low participation in leisure activities.
But a lack of facilities in their local areas was identified as the main reason young people did not take part in sports and leisure activities.
The report does not indicate whether "hanging around outside" leads to anti-social behaviour, but one of its authors, Áine de Roiste, said it points to the need for more facilities to keep teenagers off the streets.
"It is clear that teenagers will always just want to hang out with their friends, so we have to make it safer for them to do that," she said.
Speaking at the launch of the report yesterday, 16-year-old Nicola Conroy from Dublin said "I like just hanging around with my friends. We often get given out to for loitering, but there's nowhere really for us to go."
Mr Lenihan said a Policy on Recreation for Young People will be published next year, which will especially target facilities where young people can "simply hang out".
He said these would be different from youth clubs and community centres, which "the Government has invested significantly in over the years", but which "many teenagers feel are not really the places for them".
Such a centre has already been successful in Galway, where teenagers can pass time in The Gaff, which is run and designed by young people.
The minister said the Recreation Policy will not be used as a solution to anti-social behaviour but it will create "positive alternatives for teenagers".
He said his office is working on proposals on amending the Children's Act to deal with anti-social behaviour.
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