James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. Children and young people’s services committees or CYPSCs - God knows, there are a huge amount of acronyms in my Department - are being put in place to develop and implement a local planning model for inter-agency working to improve outcomes for children and young people. The age remit of the committees has been extended to include 18 to 24 year olds. The earlier children's services committees, or CSCs, applied from 0-18 years only. The CYPSCs will cover 0-24 years and are aimed at aligning with Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures to ensure a more connected and co-ordinated response to the needs and aspirations of children and young people.

At present, there are 22 CYPSCs established in Ireland across 22 counties and 25 local authority areas. Three CYPSCs are yet to be established in Clare, Laois-Offaly and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. The CYPSC boundaries generally match those of the local authority, but in some areas a CYPSC covers two local authority areas or counties. By the end of 2015, when all children and young people’s services committees are in place, there will be full coverage across the State.

Local authority engagement with the committees has always been strong with local authority managers and directors chairing or co-chairing committees in the past. This engagement with local authority structures will continue to be strengthened as the programme achieves full roll-out.

Staff within my Department are currently engaging with counterparts in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government on the form and structure of interaction between the children and young people’s services committee and the local community development committee in any given area. There are clear opportunities for closely working together as both committees work towards collaborative and coherent cross-sectoral and inter-agency responses to locally identified needs.

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