Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2015
129. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a progress report on the national youth strategy, particularly with regard to youth at risk of the poorest outcomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7757/15]
View answerWe will deal with the Minister's failures in the area of child poverty in Private Members' business tonight. I want to ask about another failure in the national youth strategy that was highlighted in the Children's Rights Alliance report. It was highlighted very dramatically last week when over 150 young people, many of whom were in tears, came here to protest about the lack of proper services and beds for young people with psychiatric difficulties or who are potentially suicidal. Is it not the case that the Government is dramatically failing to provide the supports and services that young people with mental health problems need and that these people are suffering very badly as a result?
The national youth strategy will focus on the youth-related policy commitments outlined in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the national policy framework for children and young people. It will be a universal strategy for all young people aged ten to 24. It will have a particular focus on those who are most disadvantaged or at risk and who have the poorest outcomes and are, therefore, in most need of support. A national youth strategy task force convened by my Department is overseeing the development of the new strategy. This task force comprises statutory youth interests, voluntary agencies and organisations working with young people.
I am keen that all stakeholders have a role to play in the development of the new national youth strategy, and a comprehensive consultation process is under way at present. The consultation will conclude at the end of this month. It includes online surveys of young people and those working with young people, and a number of major stakeholder consultation events. These events are for young people, the youth sector, NGOs working for and with young people, education and training boards, Government Departments, agencies, business, academia and other youth interests. Last Thursday, I attended the consultation with young people. More than 150 young people from around the country gathered in Croke Park to discuss their priorities for the new strategy.
The events also include consultation on the findings of the recently completed value for money and policy review of youth programmes that target disadvantaged young people. The review specifically addresses the needs of young people who are vulnerable to drug or alcohol misuse and who are at risk of homelessness, early school leaving or marginalisation in their communities. It makes recommendations for the future operation of the youth funding schemes and their development in the years ahead to ensure that we have effective, evidence-based programmes designed to secure the optimal outcomes for young people at risk of disadvantage.
I intend that these recommendations will be implemented in the context of the national youth strategy over 2015 and 2016. The new strategy will provide a framework for actions initiated by Government Departments and statutory and non-statutory organisations into a co-ordinated, society-wide plan for young people. I anticipate that the strategy will be completed promptly following the conclusion of the consultation process with stakeholders.
That concludes Question Time.
I did not get a supplementary question.
We are three minutes over time. I gave the Deputy extra time.
