Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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933. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of the National Youth Strategy 2015-2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13396/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The National Youth Strategy 2015-2020, published last October was developed in close consultation with statutory youth interests and the voluntary youth organisations and services that work with young people.

The strategy sets out Government’s aims for young people, aged 10 to 24 years, so that they are active and healthy, achieving their full potential in learning and development, safe and protected from harm, have economic security and opportunity and are connected and contributing to their world. 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. Priorities include, reform of the youth funding programmes in line with the recommendations in the Value for Money and Policy Review of Youth Programmes to ensure improved outcomes for young people, opportunities for those young people furthest from the labour market through measures such as the Youth Employability Initiative and the National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making.

I will shortly announce details of the successful applicants that are to be funded under the new Youth Employability Initiative, which is funded under the Dormant Accounts scheme. The initiative will target those young people aged 15 to 24 years who are most at risk of unemployment and who are not in education, employment or training. In 2016, €600,000 will be provided to the voluntary youth services, to support the provision of innovative programmes for these young people to enhance their employability skills and competencies.

My Department has undertaken consultations with youth services and engagements are continuing with stakeholders with a view to introducing the new youth funding programme in line with the Value for Money and Policy Review of Youth Programmes over 2016/2017. The National Strategy on Children and Young People's Participation in Decision Making was published in June 2015 and work is underway to ensure that children and young people have a voice in decision making that affects their lives.

My Department is in the process of setting up a National Youth Strategy 2015 - 2020 lead team to support the coordination, progression and monitoring of its implementation. The structures established by my Department under Better Outcomes Brighter Futures,the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, will oversee the roll out of its implementation.