Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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162. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the European structured dialogue process in the youth field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41955/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The EU Structured Dialogue process with young people aims to ensure that the opinion of young people is taken into account in the formulation of youth-related policies of the European Union. The process involves bringing together young people, youth organisations, youth representatives and policy-makers across the EU to jointly discuss issues affecting young people and feed into youth policy at national and European level.

The EU Structured Dialogue process with young people is managed on behalf of my Department by the National Youth Council of Ireland. It is overseen by the National Working Group which includes officials from my Department, youth workers, youth researchers and experts from the National Youth Council of Ireland

Themes for the dialogue with young people are selected for eighteen month cycles. The current Trio Presidency of Italy, Latvia and Luxembourg which will conclude on December 31 2015, selected the theme “Youth Empowerment for Political Participation”.

I am advised that Irish young people made a very positive and purposeful contribution to the European Structured Dialogue process over the last cycle. During this time, over 1000 young people in Ireland were consulted. Focus groups were held across the country and three youth delegates were selected to represent Ireland at each of the EU Youth Conferences held under the three presidencies.

I am advised that, at the EU Youth Conference in Luxembourg, held last September, a number of final joint recommendations were agreed upon which sought to empower young people for active participation in the political process across Europe. These included recommendations to strengthen the role of youth work for political empowerment of all young people and recommendations to increase synergies and cooperation between different actors. The recommendations were presented to the EU Council of Ministers for Youth, which I attended on 23 November 2015.

I am advised that work to advance these recommendations in Ireland will be progressed through a National Implementation Project which will be funded under the EU Erasmus+ programme in 2016.

The incoming Trio Presidency of the Netherlands, Slovakia and Malta has selected a theme of “Ready for life, Ready for the World” for the fifth cycle of Structured Dialogue which will begin in January 2016. The theme will focus on essential life skills and competences of young people in a diverse, connected and inclusive Europe for active participation in community and working life. The Structured Dialogue National Working Group has commenced preparations for the consultations with young people in Ireland which will commence in the New Year.