3.2 Administration and governance
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Governance
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is the main government department responsible for youth employment and entrepreneurship in Ireland.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth also play a role in terms of policy making on youth employment and entrepreneurship. For example, Economic Security and Opportunity is one of the five national outcome areas for young people in Young Ireland: National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023-2028 (Department of Children and Youth Affairs, 2023).
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions had two youth committees, one in the Republic of Ireland and one in Northern Ireland. The Youth Committees aim to be a link between young people and trade unions and play a role in advising the Executive Council of Congress on issues of concern to young workers and young unemployed people.
Other actors include the National Youth Council of Ireland, the representative body for voluntary youth organisations in Ireland, which advocates on the issues of youth employment and social protection for young jobseekers.
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI), the representative body for third level students in Ireland also runs campaigns and provides information on social welfare issues and young people’s rights as workers.
At a regional and local level, the Department of Social Protection also has a network of Intreo Centres, Local and Branch Offices, Employment Services Offices and offices administering Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
Intreo - Ireland Public Engagement Service (PES) is the single point of contact for all state employment and income supports. Intreo offers practical, tailored employment services and supports for both jobseekers and employers.
Cross-sectorial cooperation
Economic Security and Opportunity is one of the five national outcome areas for young people in Young Ireland: National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023-2028. There is cross-sectoral cooperation between all government departments in relation to this national policy framework.