·        Presentation by Emmet Major, Planet Youth Coordinator and Michéal Durcan, WRDATF Coordinator.

Cathaoirleach Cllr. Callagahan welcomed Mr. Emmet Major, Planet Youth Co-Ordinator, and Mr. Michaél Durkin, Co-ordinator with the Western Region Drug & Alcohol Task Force (WRDATF).

Mr. Major outlined his role as Planet Youth Co?ordinator and advised that the WRDATF is the coordinating body for the regional delivery of the National Drugs Strategy. He noted that a new draft strategy is currently being prepared and is due to commence this summer for a four?year period, with consultation still open through the Department of Health.

He advised that the WRDATF was established in 2003 and operates across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, and is one of ten Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces nationally, which meet eight times annually. Its core function is to identify regional substance?use challenges and coordinate effective responses. In Roscommon, engagement includes nine post?primary schools and two Youthreach centres, with areas of work spanning policy and collaboration, training and capacity building, rehabilitation and recovery, family support, prevention and early intervention.

Mr. Major explained that Planet Youth is the WRDATF’s flagship programme and is a public health?led prevention initiative based on the Icelandic Prevention Model, addressing alcohol and drug use, excessive screen time, mental health and sleep. He noted that the model emerged following exceptionally high adolescent substance?use rates in Iceland 25 years ago and has since achieved some of the lowest rates globally, with the approach now recognised internationally as best practice.

He outlined that biennial surveys of 15 and 16 year olds provide detailed insight into young people’s behaviours, environments and experiences. The data informs targeted interventions across the home, peer group, school and leisure settings, with an emphasis on keeping young people active, engaged and connected.

Following each survey, information booklets are issued to parents of First Year students in September and Junior Cycle students in November, with a new booklet for parents of pre?school children to be introduced this year. These resources focus on family time, communication, routines, bedtimes, screen use, interests and sleep.

Mr. Major advised that detailed reporting is provided on substance use, binge drinking, parental tolerance and alcohol supply, with data available at school, municipal district, county and agency level. He highlighted that sleep deficit is a significant concern, with only 4–5% of young people achieving sufficient sleep.

Additional supports include the Step?Up website, parental information sessions and SPHE teaching resources. While bullying and cyber?bullying are not identified as major issues, social exclusion is a significant concern and shows correlations with mental health challenges and substance use, leading to the development of a dedicated teaching module.

Approximately 800 students in Roscommon participate annually. Current trends show a decline in cannabis use, a minor reduction in lifetime alcohol use, but an increase in reported drunkenness in the previous 30 days, later bedtimes, worsening sleep deficits and increased night?time phone use. While overall mental health indicators show improvement, outcomes for female students remain lower than for males.

Mr. Major concluded by noting that Planet Youth data is widely used to support funding applications, service and policy planning, local economic and community development, national public health initiatives, academic research and suicide prevention work. The next survey will take place in November, with reports to be published in April 2027.

Cathaoirleach Cllr. Callaghan thanked Mr. Major for his comprehensive presentation, noting the significant changes in young people’s lives and stressing the importance of early supports, open communication and setting boundaries.

Members welcomed the presentation and highlighted the following points:

• Strong support for the Icelandic Prevention Model, which has proven effective internationally.
• Agreement that substance use, mental health, sleep deprivation and screen use are serious and growing issues across the county.
• Appreciation for the quality and depth of the data, with acknowledgment that while some trends are improving, challenges remain significant.
• A recommendation that Planet Youth data be used to inform regional and local strategies, including the Local Economic and Community Plan and the Local Community Safety Partnership.
• Noted that the Roscommon Local Community Safety Partnership will launch its countywide community safety survey in the coming days to directly inform its three?year Community Safety Plan. It was advised that the survey is anonymous, available online, with hard copies accessible in libraries, and participation was strongly encouraged to ensure data reflects county needs.
• Calls to ensure adequate facilities, spaces and activities for young people, with a suggestion that Roscommon County Council engage with Comhairle na nÓg to audit public amenities and identify gaps.
• Recognition of the positive role of sporting clubs, youth clubs and community organisations in prevention and engagement.
• Queries regarding whether future surveys could reflect emerging issues such as vaping, artificial intelligence and social media use.
• Questions on whether the survey could be expanded to include younger and older age groups, and whether it captures young people outside formal education and from diverse or migrant backgrounds.
• Concerns about excessive social media use, its impact on sleep and concentration, and the need for greater parental awareness.
• Agreement that drug availability is no longer confined to urban areas and is now a local rural issue.
• Discussion on links between substance use and criminal activity, and concerns about media glorification of drugs.
• Queries as to whether consideration has been given to the development of drug courts outside Dublin, or whether this could be explored at a regional level.
• Expressions of concern and surprise at the scale of sleep deprivation highlighted in the data.
• Recognition of the significant impact of video gaming and online interaction, with concern that virtual engagement is replacing in?person socialising, contributing to declining participation in youth clubs and, in some cases, their closure.
• Concerns that national messaging on drugs is not sufficiently impactful, with calls for stronger prevention messaging.
• Requests for increased school?based engagement, including education for parents and young people.
• Queries on peer responses to substance use and the need to support, rather than ostracise, affected young people.
• Calls for increased Garda checks on underage alcohol sales.
• Significant concern regarding the scale of vaping, regulation, and commercial interests involved.
• Recognition of pressures on CAMHS and family support services.
• Agreement that prevention must begin at primary level.

Mr. Major, in response, advised that survey questions evolve over time, participation is expanding to include more 17?year?olds, and work is underway to explore data gaps for older age groups. He confirmed that night?time phone use correlates strongly with sleep deprivation and reiterated that Planet Youth focus on environmental change rather than education led approaches, with an emphasis on health?based prevention over justice led responses.

Mr. Durkin added that while the Citizens’ Assembly recommended expanding drug courts, current emphasis is on the health model. He noted that the WRDATF provides a parent hub online and cautioned that awareness talks can be informative and compelling, however there is no evidence to suggest that they are effective.