Mechanisms and actors

Youth policy is developed and implemented using a cross-sectoral approach. Both Young Ireland: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023-2028, and the National Youth Strategy 2015-2020, take a cross-government, cross-sectoral, whole-of-society approach to youth policy. 

As part of this cross-sectoral approach, a high-level Children and Young People’s Policy Consortium was established in 2014, under the National Policy Framework. This Consortium reports directly to the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy, which includes senior officials from government departments and agencies, alongside representatives from advisory and local operational fora. The Policy Consortium is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) (then known as the Department of Children and Youth Affairs) with a deputy chair from the Department of the Prime Minister (Taoiseach).

A Cabinet Committee on Children and Education oversees the implementation of Young Ireland: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People. It is supported by a Senior Officials Group with members from across the relevant Government departments. A Policy Forum oversees and drives the effective implementation of policies impacting children and young people within their respective spheres of responsibility, across departments, agencies and sectors. The Policy Forum includes representatives from a new Children and Young People’s Advisory Council, which is being established to provide a forum for civil society and independent experts to actively inform and support the development and implementation of policies in respect of children and young people.