Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2015
391. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on the work of the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures advisory council on children and youth; the number of meetings held to date; the work programme for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25970/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraBetter Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (2014-2020) is the overarching national policy framework which comprehends the age ranges of children and young people from 0-24 years. It was launched by the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in April 2014.
Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures is supported by a robust implementation infrastructure. As this significant policy framework impacts on all of society, it is imperative that the community and voluntary sector have a strong role in its implementation. This is achieved through the Advisory Council. The Advisory Council provides a forum for the community and voluntary sector and independent experts to engage with the Children and Young People’s Policy Consortium and its constituent elements to actively inform and support the implementation of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures. The Council consists of four constituent groupings with representatives from the following sectors: Early Years; Children; Youth; and independent experts.
The Advisory Council was the final piece of the implementation structures to be established. The Council is chaired by Dr Owen Keenan, and their first meeting was held on 5 November 2014. The second was held in December 2014, where the Sponsors Group presented the cross-sectoral priorities for 2015 to the Sponsors. Subsequent meetings were held in January, February, April and June 2015. In April, drafts of the National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision Making, and the National Youth Strategy were presented to the Council, and in June the Council discussed another significant DCYA-led policy initiative in Children and Young People’s Services Committees.
The Advisory Council are convening regularly as they work towards establishing their role within the overall implementation process. The Council has been requested to consider a number of issues towards supporting the implementation process, including:
- How the Council, and broader civil society, can contribute to the implementation of BOBF
- Inform, along with other constituent groupings, the identification of priority areas for 2016 which could be considered and agreed with the Sponsors Group before being approved by the Consortium
- How key messages of BOBF implementation can be communicated to the wider community and voluntary sector.
The Council has recently decided to form two subgroups to progress the issues of:
- prevention and early intervention
- child poverty.
These two subgroups will be co-convened by members of the Council and with officials from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Social Protection to progress these significant issues, before reporting back to the Council in September.
Finally, I welcome the engagement of the Advisory Council in supporting the implementation of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures in their respective sectors; and look forward to the advancement of a the work of the Council in collaboration with my Department.
