Around 214 children between the ages of seven and 17 will today attend the second Dáil na nÓg at the Mansion House, Dublin, this afternoon.
The purpose of Dáil na nÓg is to provide a forum where children, who are representative of their peers, can raise and debate issuesand that these issues can be fed into the development of public policy.
Mr Brian Lenihan, Minister of State for Children, who will host this afternoon's Dáil na nÓg, said: "We want to give all the children in Ireland the chance to debate issues of concern to them and pass on their views to the Government".
The motions for discussion at the Dáil na nÓg are Drug and Alcohol Abuse and the Environment. These motions were selected by the delegates in advance.
"I and the government want to know what our young people think about drug and alcohol abuse and we want their advice on how this problem can be solved," said Mr Lenihan.
The Government examined the report of the first Dáil na nÓg and requested the National Children's Office to develop a national play and recreation policy as a matter of priority.
The national play policy for under twelves is almost complete and a presentation on the draft policy has been given to the children at today's Dáil na nÓg. Work will start shortly on the national recreation policy for over twelves.