Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 February 2026
209. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 537 of 27 January 2026, if she will provide details on the National Youth Sector Reference Group as well as a group comprising representatives from departments and agencies that provide funding to or interact with the youth sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8773/26]
View answer210. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 537 of 27 January 2026, if she will provide details on progress in drafting an operational action plan to support implementation of the strategy; the timeline for engagement with stakeholders involved in the delivery of these actions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8774/26]
View answer211. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 537 of 27 January 2026, if she will provide more information on the design of a consultative forum, from 2026 onwards, that will concentrate on the identification of policy priorities, outputs, and outcomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8775/26]
View answer212. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 537 of 27 January 2026, her plans to meet with youth organisations, to discuss their priorities and understand the value of their work and the challenges they face; when she intends to get stakeholder input to inform the development of the implementation plan for Opportunities for Youth, the national strategy for youth work and related services, which is currently in development; the timelines for this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8776/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 209, 210, 211 and 212 together.
Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services is the strategic framework for the youth work sector, published in September 2024. The strategy aims to build awareness of and strengthen youth services, and ensure that youth services remain accessible and of value to young people across Ireland. Department officials have drafted an operational action plan to support implementation of the strategy, and consultation with stakeholders involved in the delivery actions will take place before the plan is finalised and published. The department has received significant input already from the sector, which is reflected in the plan.
The implementation of Opportunities for Youth, and the cooperation of all relevant stakeholders, will be supported through a new National Youth Sector Reference Group (NYSRG), as well as a group comprising representatives from departments and agencies that provide funding to or interact with the youth sector.
The establishment of the NYSRG is being informed by a process of stakeholder mapping and will focus on the design of a consultative forum, from 2026 onwards, that will concentrate on the identification of policy priorities, outputs, and outcomes. The Group will include representatives from across the youth sector, including academics and youth representatives. This will support a balanced and transparent input from across the wider youth sector into national decision-making. A key pillar of this will be the representation of the views of young people, including young people of diverse backgrounds, so that they can influence decision-making in respect of youth work services.
The aim of the Interdepartmental and Interagency Group on State-funded Youth Work Services will be to develop a renewed and whole-of-government vision for the role of state-funded youth work services, including the role of youth work within the wider landscape of provision for children and young people. In turn this will improve coherence and complementarity across schemes and ensure a joined-up approach to supporting young people. This group will comprise relevant departments and state agencies that provide support or funding to youth services, to achieve greater cooperation, coherence and, where appropriate, integration of services.
The department engages with national youth organisations on a regular basis, including through the National Youth Organisation (NYO) forum. The purpose of this forum is to offer representatives from the national youth organisations an opportunity to meet with senior departmental officials and, when available, the Minister. At these gatherings, the department provides organisations with an update on current priorities, while the organisations highlight achievements or issues that they would like to bring to the department’s attention.
The department looks forward to meeting and working with youth organisations, to discuss their priorities and understand the value of their work and the challenges they face.
