Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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1214. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the proposed new National Youth Strategy; and the supports being prioritised for early intervention, mental health, and youth homelessness prevention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43389/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services is the strategic framework for the youth work sector and was published in September 2024. The purpose of the strategy is to provide a platform for an effective, data-driven, and joined-up approach to the delivery of youth work and related services.

The implementation of the strategy will be reported on via the Young Ireland governance structures. The implementation of this strategy and the cooperation of all relevant actors will be supported via a new National Youth Sector Reference Group as well as a group with representatives from Departments and agencies that provide funding to or interact with the youth sector.

Since the transfer of youth affairs to my department on 1 May, I have included actions in my recently published Education Plan to bring forward these structures, and I have had my first meeting with key national youth organisations.

I have set out that my department will revert to stakeholders in the coming period on draft implementation arrangements for the strategy, including consultation and engagement structures.

In relation to supports being prioritised for mental health, Action 4 of the strategy commits to ensuring that schemes and services include a focus on a number of key policy themes for the next two years, one of which is promoting mental and social well-being among young people.

In relation to supports for early intervention and youth homelessness, under Action 8 of the strategy, my officials have begun work on a review of the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme. The review will assess how the scheme operates, the extent to which the scheme is meeting its objectives, and whether the processes and procedures that underpin the scheme are fit for purpose. UBU Your Place Your Space targets young people who are disadvantaged, marginalised and vulnerable, including those facing homelessness, with early and evidence-informed interventions and services to secure good outcomes.