Mechanisms and actors

Youth policy is developed and implemented using a cross-sectoral approach. Both Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, 2014-2020, 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).

The development of the National Youth Strategy was overseen by a cross-sectoral National Youth Strategy Task Group brought together by the DCEDIY. Members of the Task Group included representatives from:

• the National Youth Council of Ireland
• the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) 
• National University of Ireland, Maynooth
• Centre for Effective Services (a charity which supports the implementation of public services through evidence-informed policy and practice) 
• Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI)
• Accenture (consultancy company) 
• government departments: 
  • Department of Children and Youth Affairs (now known as DCEDIY)
  • Department of Education and Skills (now known as the Department of Education) 
  • Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (now known as the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)
  • Department of Health
  • Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (now known as the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)
  • Department of Justice and Equality (now known as the Department of Justice)
  • Department of Social Protection.

​This Task Group's work was supported by an Advisory Group convened by the National Youth Council of Ireland. The Task Group included 18 voluntary youth organisations.