It is recognised that particular groups of children and young people can face more challenges in achieving the five national outcomes set out in Better Outcomes Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (2014-2020), and numerous specific commitments of the Framework reflect this.
My Department identified prevention and early intervention as a key cross-sectoral priority for 2015-16. This is being addressed through the Area-Based Childhood programme, the development of a Quality and Capacity Building initiative, and supporting relevant priorities of other Government departments. As part of this, the Advisory Council for Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, which brings together members of the community and voluntary sector as well as independent experts, has worked on a number of priority areas including homelessness and child poverty. Members of the Council and officials from my Department recently met with representatives from Focus Ireland and St. Vincent de Paul to progress these issues. They have also met with young people working with the Migrants Rights Centre Ireland to discuss issues facing undocumented young people.
My Department commissions, conducts and consults a wide variety of analysis of the requirements of children in their early years, and this is central to policy development. Evidence from the Growing Up in Ireland longitudinal study informed the recent introduction of new childcare regulations, and the July 2015 report of the Inter-Departmental Group on Future Investment in Childcare was also based on a wide consultation.
In relation to youth services, my Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of services to young people throughout the country. Targeted programmes support the provision of youth services for young people who are at risk of drugs and/or alcohol misuse, early school-leaving, homelessness or who are living in disadvantaged communities. Overall, the funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country. In 2016, funding of €51 million has been secured by my Department for these schemes.
I and officials of my Department continue to meet regularly with many voluntary organisations and groups providing services to children and young people, to see how we can work together to bring about the best possible outcomes.
