1.4 Youth policy decision-making
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Structure of decision-making
Youth policymaking takes place at central government level in Ireland.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) (formally known as the Department of Children and Youth Affairs) is the top-level authority responsible for youth policy. It is a dedicated government department responsible for children and youth affairs.
The DCEDIY brings together several key areas of policy and provision for children, young people, and families. Its mission is to lead the effort to improve the outcomes for children and young people in Ireland. In 2020, its remit was expanded by the Government. It's responsibilities now include policy, legislation, and services in the areas of integration, equality, and disability, which were previously held by the Department of Justice.
Included within the Department's remit are the following organisations:
- Child Policy and Tusla Governance Division (Tusla is the national Child and Family Agency)
- Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Division
- Corporate and Business Support Division
- Youth Justice, Adoption, Youth and Participation Division
- International Protection and Equality Division.
Other actors formally involved in youth policy making include government departments whose remit includes young people, for example:
- Department of Education
- Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
- Department of Justice
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Department of Social Protection
- Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
Main policy themes
The main policy themes addressed in Young Ireland: National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023-2028 are:
- Outcome 1: Active and Healthy
- Outcome 2: Achieving in Learning and Development
- Outcome 3: Safe and Protected from Harm
- Outcome 4: Economic Security and Opportunity
- Outcome 5: Connected, Respected and Contributing to their World.
The Framework has three 'spotlights':
- Child Poverty and Well-Being
- Child and Youth Mental Health and Well-being
- Disability Services.
Further information about the Framework is available in section 1.3 National youth strategy.
The national agency for youth
Public policies on youth are developed and coordinated by the DCEDIY. There is no body official specified as the 'national agency for youth'.
However, alongside the DCEDIY, there are a number of different agencies which address youth issues, design and manage youth-related programmes and initiatives, support both individuals and entities in availing themselves of funding opportunities, and produce and disseminate information on youth policies and opportunities.
The National Youth Council of Ireland
The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) is the representative body for voluntary youth organisations in Ireland. It was established in 1967. NYCI uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people. Its role is recognised in legislation through the Youth Work Act 2001 and includes:
- Representing the shared interests of voluntary youth organisations
- Building solidarity among its members
- Advocating on issues that impact on the lives of young people
- Promoting the development of evidence informed high quality specialist youth work practice
- Capacity building and professional development.
NYCI designs and manages a number of programmes including:
- Child Protection Programme
- Development Education Programme
- Youth Arts Programme
- Youth Health Programme
- Intercultural and Equality Programme
- International Programme
- Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM) and Digital Youth Work Programme.
NYCI also provides training to youth organisation on these programmes.
NYCI is an independent, charity and company limited by guarantee, which receives grants from government and other co-funders. It complies with The Governance Code for the Community, Voluntary and Charitable Sector in Ireland. As a registered charity, it is accountable to its donors, beneficiaries and the public.
NYCI's 2022 budget totaled €3,091,993, an increase from it's 2021 budget of €2,860,803.
Léargas
Léargas is the national agency for Erasmus+ funding in the field of youth. It nationality manages a number of youth-related programmes and initiatives, such as Erasmus+ for the field of youth; and DiscoverEU. Léargas supports both individuals and entities in availing themselves of funding opportunities, for example running workshops on making funding applications. It also produces and disseminates information on youth policies and opportunities, for example through EuroDesk and Youth Wiki.
As a semi-state body, under the remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), Léargas is accountable to DFHERIS. As a registered charity, it is also accountable to its donors, beneficiaries and the public.
Léargas received €5,894,311 income in its 2022 budget (less than a 1% change from the previous fiscal year's income).
Policy monitoring and evaluation
Policy measures and programmes in the field of youth are typically evaluated by a combination of:
- annually measuring indicators,
- annual reports during a policy's / programme's lifecycle
- a mid-term progress review
- a review after the completion of a policy's / programme's lifecycle.