Irish children say this country is "brilliant" and "cool", but they are keenly aware of social injustice, says a report based on e-mails and letters from nearly 2,500 children.
Published today by the Minister of State for Children, Ms Mary Hanafin, it also found that children are concerned about the environment and a widespread absence of play and leisure facilities. Many blame a lack of anything else to do for youth drinking and drug abuse. Children's views were sought as preparatory work for the National Children's Strategy to be published next month.
Luminaries of the past such as the 1916 leaders or great Irish writers have been replaced as heroes and heroines by Mrs Mary Robinson, Westlife, Sir Bob Geldof and Charlie Swan.
The closure of playgrounds by local authorities (apparently for insurance reasons) was a source of anger and sadness to children. "This issue was not confined to one area but was raised by children from Dublin and Cork," the report says. They also pointed to the loss of green spaces and play areas to the building boom.
Environmental issues included litter and dirt, especially broken bottles. While they were concerned about pollution of rivers, sea and air and emissions from Sellafield, they saw pollution from traffic as the main threat.
"Children were really concerned about their personal safety from attack," the report says. "They expressed worry about kidnapping, people going missing and murderers released from prison."
Attitudes towards asylum-seekers was mixed. "In the main there was concern for refugees and asylum-seekers," it says, while some children "condemned the idea of allowing refugees and asylum-seekers into Ireland".
pomorain@irish-times.ie