My Department has always emphasised the importance of regular contact and discussion with key stakeholders in relation to policy and services for children and young people. This includes ensuring that, where appropriate, representative bodies and organisations working with children and young people play a role in the formation of policy. A number of committees and advisory groups are currently in place under my Department. One of these is the National Children's Advisory Council, which acts in an independent advisory role to myself as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and includes representatives of statutory agencies, the voluntary sector, research community, parents and young people. Its overarching role is to contribute to the development of a strong collaborative interface between statutory and non-statutory providers of children’s services in order to improve outcomes for children and young people. The Council is currently assisting my Department in developing a new National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2013-2018, which will build on Our Children - Their Lives, Ireland's first children’s strategy which was published in 2000 and provide a continuum of the life-course from infancy through to early and middle childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. Key areas which I expect the Framework will identify include health and well being; education; economic security and poverty; parenting and family support; environment; safety; sports and recreation; and media, arts and culture. Other committees include the National Youth Work Advisory Committee which includes representatives from both the voluntary and statutory sectors with an interest and involvement in the administration and provision of youth work programmes and services. Its main role is to advise on and assist in the co-ordination of youth work policies, programmes and services and provide a forum to address and progress specific issues. The National Children's Strategy Implementation Group includes representatives of relevant Government departments, the Health Service Executive (HSE), local authorities, the education sector and other key agencies. Its key priority is to ensure the implementation of all strategic plans and policy documents in relation to children's services in Ireland and improve the way in which Government, agencies and organisations work with each other.
