David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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20. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 11 of 8 July 2015, if the new national youth strategy has been finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36215/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I was delighted to publish Ireland's first National Youth Strategy 2015 - 2020 on 8th October 2015 at the Bluebell Youth and Community Project in Dublin 12.

The National Youth Strategy sets out Government's aim and objectives for young people, aged 10 to 24 years, so that they can 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 is a universal strategy for all young people. It has a particular focus on the needs of young people at risk of experiencing the poorest outcomes.

The Strategy identifies some fifty priority actions to be delivered by Government departments, state agencies and by others, including the voluntary youth services over 2015 to 2017. They include actions to address issues which are a high priority for young people themselves, such as access to online youth mental health services, a National Obesity Policy and Action Plan, opportunities for those young people furthest from the labour market and youth entrepreneurship initiatives and rolling out the National Strategy on Children and Young People's Participation in Decision-making (2015).

As a first step in delivering the Nation Youth Strategy, my Department has introduced a new Youth Employability Initiative which will provide €600,000 in grants to the voluntary youth services for programme that target disadvantaged young people to improve their employability.

My Department will lead the implementation of the new National Youth Strategy and progress will be monitored through the structures put in place under Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures.