Written answers

Thursday, 22 March 2018

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

National Youth Strategy

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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264. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the actions taken to date or that she plans to take to implement the commitment in the National Youth Strategy 2015-2020 to undertake a review of the strategy to assess its progress, examine the process and review the continuing relevance of its objectives and priorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13443/18]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department provides leadership at national level in implementing the National Youth Strategy and in ensuring that national policy is connected to local implementation. The implementation structures established by DCYA for Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures are being optimised to assist and support the implementation of the National Youth Strategy.

A National Youth Strategy Lead Team has been established in the Department to co-ordinate, progress and monitor implementation of the Strategy. Two sub-groups of the National Youth Strategy Lead Team were also established: one to engage with the Better Outcomes, Brighter Future's Advisory Council and another to oversee the implementation of the Value For Money Policy Review of Youth Programmes.

All youth services funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs employ the National Youth Strategy Outcomes and Actions to plan and structure their strategy for delivering youth programmes.  All youth services and national youth organisations funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, when applying for funding, must present their core outcomes to be achieved with reference to the 5 outcomes of the National Youth Strategy.  This approach is also reflected in the Annual Progress Reports and the National Quality Standards Framework Annual Progress Reports for the youth services and the national youth organisations.  The Department is confident that the National Youth Strategy is now embedded in the way youth services and national youth organisations operate.

Cross-departmental engagement is on-going.  Departments with responsibilities under the National Youth Strategy report the status of actions through the Better Outcomes Brighter Futures reporting structures.  The National Youth Strategy Lead Team monitors this information and is satisfied with the progress being made.

Any review of the National Youth Strategy will be linked to the review of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures.

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