Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, who is unable to be present to take this Adjournment matter. I thank the Senator for raising it.

The Ministe was delighted to join the President in welcoming the launch of the report on the Being Young and Irish initiative on Saturday. The Minister paid tribute, not just to the impressive work that took place in developing the declaration, but to the detailed consultations with young people held earlier this year, in which they were invited to share their views through multimedia and at four regional workshops.

There are more than 600,000 young people in Ireland in the age range 17 to 26 years. This is the age range which is presented in the report, representing a comprehensive study of range of issues. A number of these issues apply to a wider age range, and are being considered in a broader context. However, the views of this age cohort must be given equal standing as those from other sectors of society.

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is developing a children and young people's policy framework to set priorities for the period 2013 to 2017. The framework will provide a whole-of-government policy approach for children and young people. Within this overall policy framework a more detailed youth strategy will be developed. The Department will look carefully at the report in developing both the policy framework and the youth strategy.

The Minister for Children and Youth affairs is fully committed to the participation of young people in decision-making. The Department supports the work of 34 Comhairle na nÓg groups which act as local councils for those aged 12 to 18 years. Greater consideration needs to be given to participation by young adults. It is sometimes assumed that as young people over 18 have the vote they are as well positioned as anyone else to influence decisions. However, as the experience of the women's movement shows, the franchise is only the starting point in having one's voice heard. In developing the youth strategy, the Department will consider how citizen participation by young adults can be promoted.

The Department has conducted a consultation of 67,000 children and young people to inform the policy framework and the youth strategy. A further public consultation was conducted recently, in which members of the general public were invited to participate. This invitation led to over 1,000 submissions which are being analysed. The output of the Being Young and Irish initiative provides us with another important resource in this process, as young adults represent a distinct and important cohort who must also be heard.

The need for an overhaul of the education system is highlighted in the report. Last month the Government announced plans for a radical reform of the junior cycle. The reforms recognise the need to promote a model of education which is attuned to a more rapidly changing world. The transition from second to third level is also being examined by my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, in conjunction with the HEA and the universities.

The report shows that the issue of positive mental health is a priority for young people. The Government has made available an additional ¤35 million this year to improve mental health services, of which an additional ¤3 million is to be used in suicide prevention measures. The issue of alcohol was highlighted in the consultations. The Government will shortly consider proposals to assist in tackling problematic alcohol use. The Government has a leadership role to play in this issue, but it will require a commitment from a much wider range of actors if we, as a society, are to achieve a healthier relationship with alcohol.

One of the most important issues facing us is youth unemployment. We must revitalise the economy to meet the very significant challenge that this poses us. We must also further develop the effectiveness of training and labour market supports for young people to enable them to acquire the skills and resilience needed to gain and maintain employment in a much more uncertain world.

The consultation report and declaration are much more comprehensive than it is possible to do justice to in my brief remarks. The Minister will draw on this work in the youth strategy being developed by her Department next year. The Minister will also bring relevant recommendations to other colleagues in government.