Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
1015. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the objectives from the National LGBTI+ Youth Strategy which have been completed; the objectives which are outstanding; when the outstanding objectives will be completed; the main obstacle for objectives that will not be met by the end of 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8975/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn June 2018 I published the world-first LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018 – 2020 (LGBTI+ NYS). It was a key commitment for DCYA as part of the 2016 Programme for Partnership Government and the Government's broader commitment to continue to strive for the full inclusion of LGBTI+ people in Irish society.
Three strategic goals were identified to support the achievement of the LGBTI+NYS vision; these goals cascade down into 15 Objectives and 59 actions, involving collaboration between Government Departments, Agencies and a wide range of other stakeholders. The Goals are aligned to the five national outcomes of the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, 2014-2020 (BOBF).
In October 2019 the First Annual Report on the Implementation of the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy was published. The report documented progress on action implementation up to the 3rd quarter of 2019. This report, available on the Gov.ie website, shows that, by 2019, 55 of the 59 actions under the Strategy had already been initiated (47) or were planned for initiation (9). Since then further progress has been made in implementing the Strategy.
Goal 1 of the LGBTI+ strategy seeks to ensure that LGBTI+ young people are safe, supported and included in all the environments and contexts in which they live their lives including formal education, employment, cultural representation, and welfare services. Goal 1 is comprised of 10 objectives and 38 actions. The actions are led by 17 Departments, Agencies and NGOs. The report showed that 36 of the 38 actions under Goal 1 had either been initiated (30) or a plan was in place for their initiation (6).
Goal 2 of the Strategy is to improve the physical, mental and sexual health of LGBTI+ young people, by identifying, tailoring and implementing health services and initiatives that support the health and wellbeing of LGBTI+ young people. This Goal is comprised of 4 objectives and 14 actions. The 4 objectives and 14 actions are led by the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The Implementation Report showed that thirteen of the 14 actions under Goal 2 were either initiated (11) or planned (2).
Goal 3, which is to develop the research and data environment in order to better understand the lives of LGBTI+ young people and to make their experiences visible, is progressing. This is achieved by including relevant research and evaluation metrics in programme and intervention design, collecting evidence and measuring the impact of these initiatives on young people’s lives. Objectives achieved include the further development and digitisation of the Irish Queer Archive, understanding the research and data gaps with regard to LGBTI+ young people, piloting questions related to sexual orientation and gender identity for a Household Survey in 2018/2019, and considerations of how language about gender identity and sexual orientation is used. This goal continues to be advanced during 2020 with research actions in train.
At the beginning of this year the Secretary General of DCYA issued reminders to all Departments and other bodies of their obligations in relation to implementation of the LGBTI+NYS.
Governance and implementation oversight of LGBTI+NYS sits within the comprehensive Framework for the implementation of BOBF, as one of its constituent strategies. Implementation of the LGBTI+NYS is additionally supported by the LGBTI+ Youth Forum, which involves young people in implementing the strategy, an annual implementation forum and the appointment of Olivia McEvoy to the BOBF Advisory Council specifically to represent LGBTI+NYS.
Most recently, the implementation of the LGBTI+ NYS is also supported by its partner strategy from the Department of Justice and Equality (DJE), the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 published in November 2019. DCYA are collaborating with DJE on implementing shared actions from both strategies.
The next phase of reporting will take place in due course.
