Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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553. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the second annual report under the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures has been completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40743/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The second annual report on Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (2014-2020) was published in August 2016, and is available to the public on my Department’s website. This covers implementation for the second year of the framework, April 2015 to 2016.

My Department has taken an innovative approach to development of the annual reports, which include a spread and depth of perspectives, and ensures a proactive approach to communications with the community and voluntary sector, for example by presenting the findings at an annual seminar organised by the Children’s Rights Alliance.

The report includes inputs from the chairs of key groups in the implementation infrastructure: the Children and Young People’s Policy Consortium, the Advisory Council, the Children and Young People’s Services Committees National Steering Group and the Sponsors Group.

It also contains information on the development of an outcome indicator set, progress on commitments, development of cross-sectoral priorities, and details of work across government for children and young people.

Details of the work of the groups in the implementation infrastructure is also included, as well as information on the constituent strategies:The National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision Making, the National Youth Strategy, anddevelopment of the Early Years Strategy.

The first annual report is also available on my Department’s website, as well as the implementation plan for Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures and the workplan for the Advisory Council.