Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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263. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26490/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The implementation of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (2014-2020),has been ongoing across Government since its launch in April 2014. Two annual reports on the progress of implementing Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, covering the first two years of the framework have been prepared, and are available to the public on my Department’s website. A third annual report is being finalised in my Department, and will be made available to the public in Q3 2017.

These reports present a positive picture of implementation across government, as well as a high level of engagement from Departments and agencies. The community and voluntary sector is involved in the implementation of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures through the Advisory Council, which is working with Departments on a range of issues including child poverty, prevention and early intervention, mental health and wellbeing and others.

Children and young people are engaged in the implementation process through the Comhairle na nÓg National Executive and the Young Voices group.

Even the most complex issues, such as child poverty, obesity, homelessness and prevention and early intervention are being progressed across government, through engagements occurring within the implementation structures of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures.

The cornerstone of the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures implementation infrastructure is the Children and Young People’s Policy Consortium, which is responsible for having oversight and driving whole of Government implementation of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures. Since being appointed Minister, I have chaired meetings of the Consortium.

My Department has also developed a set of outcome indicators for Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, aligned with the five national outcomes. These will act as a barometer of progress on the five national outcomes, and will influence future policy development.

The constituent strategies on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision Making, and the National Youth Strategy are both being implemented, and work is ongoing in my Department developing an Early Years Strategy.

As 2017 represents the mid-point in the life of the framework, my Department is organising a mid-point review to consider issues such as engagement, outputs and the effectiveness of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, as well as identifying priorities for implementation up to 2020. It is intended that all stakeholders will have the opportunity to contribute to this review.