Activists' views. . .Participants at the first meeting of the Taskforce on Active Citizenship voiced their opinions on how to promote greater level of participation in the community.
"For me the key to increasing active citizenship is involving people at an early age in their community... We should encourage children to join organisations and sports clubs, to climb mountains instead of computer games...If people have an involvement and stake in their community at an early age it will become an integral part of their lives which they will carry with them always. Society will reap the rewards in terms of active and involved citizens."- Jennifer Dowling (22), Girl Guides Ireland
"We're grovelling to the Department of Health to get a place just for our annual meeting. We were given Dublin Castle last year. We thought, 'wow, we've arrived!' Now we're back to grovelling again. It's very off-putting. You feel you're not being recognised. Yet you know you're doing great work, and your 22,000 members know you're doing great work. We can't afford to pay €1,000 for a hotel conference room. I really would like something positive to be offered to us on a monthly basis for accommodation." - Breda Dunlea, Federation of Active Retirement Associations
"Where are the youth centres gone? When I grew up we'd go home after school, throw our bags on floor and go down to the local youth club. It belonged to the community... Let's stop pointing the finger at young people. We're to blame.
"We're not providing them with a roof, we're not providing them with anywhere to socialise. Let's train people to work in youth centres. Other clubs cost money. Youth clubs in the community should be open to all young people." - Catherine Heron, parents' representative at Malahide Community School, Co Dublin
"There are new people arriving into the community. It is a very difficult time. We feel very uninformed about these new communities.
"But the community leaders need cultural diversity training to understand these new people in their midst. This is needed, especially in the light of the numbers of people moving here." - Yemis Ojo, founder of Integration of African Children in Ireland
"The planning system is geared around building houses, not communities. Waste plans and area plans are being developed, yet there is no proper consultation with communities.
"If we can do one thing, we need to urge the Government to racially review the planning system and start focusing on community and social needs.
"It's then, and only then, can we start driving the active citizenship agenda."
- Brian Hanratty, environment and community campaigner, Co Meath