This review of Youth Peer Education and Youth Peer Mentoring in Kerry comes in the context of all of these changes. The proposal for a referendum to enshrine the rights of Children in the Irish Constitution is the latest demonstration of more child-friendly official attitudes to children. Much of Irish policy regarding youth is influenced by United Nations.

Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which the Irish government signed up to in 1992. In it’s submission to UNCRC the Irish government states that it “…..recognises its duty to care for children, but also its duty to empower children and young people to participate in issues that affect their lives.” Participation is also Goal 1 of the National Children’s Strategy: “..children will have a voice in matters which affect their lives.” At the level of policy, approaches & methods involving youth-participation and youthempowerment are now mainstream.