David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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11. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 150 of 24 February 2015, if the new national youth strategy has now been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27330/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The National Youth Strategy 2015 - 2020 has its basis in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for children and young people 2014 – 2020 and in particular its youth-specific commitments. The purpose of the National Youth Strategy is to enable all young people aged 10 to 24 to realise their maximum potential with regard to the five national outcomes in Better Outcomes, Brighter Future. It will be a universal strategy for all young people. It will have a particular focus on the needs of young people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing the poorest outcomes.

The Strategy is based on an understanding of youth as a distinctive period of development between childhood and adulthood. It takes account of the social and economic factors that influence young people during this period, and the important roles that parents, families, friends, other adults and communities play in their lives. Its development is informed by national and European policy developments and the results of a national consultation process.

The National Youth Strategy identifies key objectives to be achieved for young people so that they may be active and healthy, achieving their full potential in learning and development, safe and protected from harm, have economic security and opportunity and be connected and contributing to their world. It sets out priority actions to be delivered by stakeholders such as Government departments, state agencies and by the NGO sector over 2015 to 2017.

My Department will lead and support the implementation of the new Strategy and progress will be monitored through the structures put in place under Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures . I am pleased to say that the National Youth Strategy is almost complete and I intend to bring it to Government in the next few weeks. I will then publish it at an early date.