Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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75. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress of the LGBTI+ youth strategy; and when she expects to report to Dáil Éireann on the strategy. [43692/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Programme for Government (2016) gives a commitment to develop a Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Youth Strategy.

I established an Oversight Committee with an Independent Chair, Ms Una Mullally, to oversee the development of the Strategy on 19 December 2016. The group includes cross-sectoral representation from relevant organisations, bodies and Government Departments/Agencies. A Youth Advisory Group also supports the development of the Strategy and has representatives on the Oversight Committee.

Consultations have taken place on a very wide scale, particularly with young people. To date, approximately 4,000 young people have participated in the consultation process either online or through attendance at the events which my Department has hosted across the country. A stakeholder consultation event was held in Farmleigh House on 28 June 2017 at which almost 100 organisations were represented. In addition an open call for submissions was launched in early September and closed on 27 September 2017.

Five sub-groups have been established this month and they are currently working to identify strategic priorities and actions. The sub-groups will report back to the Oversight Committee on the results of their work by the end of November 2017.

A report of the consultation process with young people and details on their views has been prepared and is in the final stages of drafting with a view to publication in December. The Youth Advisory Group for the Strategy will work on a youth version of the report.

My officials will undertake bilateral consultations with Departments in early 2018 to discuss the actions identified and approved by the Oversight Committee. I anticipate publication of the final Strategy in Spring 2018.

This is a key commitment for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in the Programme for Government and also makes a contribution towards the Government’s broader commitment to continue to strive for full inclusion of LGBTI+ people in Ireland.

Better Outcomes Brighter Futures, The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014 - 2020and The National Youth Strategy 2015 - 2020is providing the framework within which the Strategy is being framed with a focus on ensuring measures are in place to enable young people identifying as LGBTI+ to achieve their full potential.