Report on teen facilities ‘disturbing’

CHILDREN’S Ombudsman Emily Logan has described a report showing the absence of facilities for teenagers as disturbing and said it highlights the obstacles faced by young people.

The detailed study of how more than 700 second-level east Cork students spend their spare time illustrates problems common to towns around the country.

In response to a survey by East Cork Area Development, four out of five teens said they hang around, and many referred to others turning to drink and drugs out of boredom.

They complained about the shortage of facilities for young people in Carrigtwohill, Cóbh, Glanmire, Midleton and Youghal and called for more youth cafés, cinemas and sports facilities, and also greater access to night-time activities and lessons in creative pursuits.

Launching the report yesterday, Ms Logan welcomed the chance it gave to allow young people express their opinions but said more communities need to do the same.

She said: “One of the most disturbing things these teenagers said was about being bored and how they associated starting to drink with nothing to do or hanging around, whether it was in fields or streets or corners.

“The solutions the young people came up with are not very complicated, they just want to hang around with their pals but there are lots of obstacles to doing that. Adults often have problems with young people hanging around, even if they’re not causing trouble.”

The Government is considering proposals by Children Minister Brian Lenihan’s office to set up youth cafés or similar centres.

Ms Logan’s office has commissioned research into the obstacles young people perceive to their participation in society and will unveil plans to tackle these barriers later this year.

Asked about possible delays in the proposed referendum to amend the Constitutional position on children’s rights, Ms Logan declined to comment. She has advised Mr Lenihan on the wording of the question to be put to voters and is awaiting the Government’s proposed wording before commenting further.

On Tuesday, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the referendum could be delayed until after the summer election if cross-party support for the wording is not agreed, but it could also be held in the next month.