On this page

1. Existence of a national strategy to increase young people's political and civil society participation

2. Scope and contents

3. Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

4. Revisions/ Updates

Existence of a national strategy to increase young people’s political and civil society participation

Ireland’s most recent National Strategy on youth participation is The National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making. The strategy was introduced in 2015, to cover the timeframe from 2015 until 2020. 

There is also a National Framework for Children and Young People's Participation in Decision-making. The latest Framework was launched in April 2021. 

The Participation of Children and Young People in Decision Making-Action Plan 2023-2028 was developed in 2023 as a successor to the Participation Strategy and is due to be published in 2024. This Action-Plan is discussed further in Youth Wiki section 5.10 Current debates and reforms. 

Scope and contents

The National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making

The National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making aims to address participation at a national, regional and local level. It is primarily aimed at children and young people under the age of 18, but also embraces the voice of young people in the transition to adulthood. The Strategy outlines the background and rationale for the participation of children and young people in decision-making. 

The objectives of the strategy

• Definition, model and principles of children and young people’s participation in decision-making
• The legal, policy and infrastructural supports to implement the strategy. 

The Action Plan for the implementation of the strategy

The strategy focuses on the everyday lives of children and young people and the places and spaces in which they are entitled to have a voice in decisions that affect their lives.

Therefore, the strategy identifies the following objectives and priority areas for action:

• Children and young people will have a voice in decisions made in their local communities
• Children and young people will have a voice in decision-making in early education, schools and the wider formal and non-formal education systems
• Children and young people will have a voice in decisions that affect their health and well-being, including on the health and social services delivered to them
• Children and young people will have a voice in the Courts and legal.

The strategy contains a series of additional objectives, which include:

• Promoting effective leadership to champion and promote participation of children and young people
• Development of education and training for professionals working with and on behalf of children and young people
• Mainstreaming the participation of children and young people in the development of policy, legislation and research.

A key priority of the strategy is that seldom-heard children and young people are enabled to take part in decision-making. This is considered to be particularly critical in the case of children living in the care of the State or in receipt of child protection and welfare services.

National Framework for Children and Young People's Participation in Decision-making

The Participation Framework supports departments, agencies and organisations to improve their practice in listening to children and young people and giving them a voice in decision-making. It is underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is the government department responsible for the implementation, coordination and monitoring of both the strategy and framework.

Revisions/ Updates

The National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth published three annual reports (2016, 2017 and 2019) on the implementation of the actions in the National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making, 2015-2020.

In 2023 a final review was published, examining the progress made on each of the actions in the Strategy during its lifetime and to identify where further progress needs to be made. The review also outlines examples of good practice demonstrated by departments and agencies in implementing actions under the Strategy and the revised Action Plan. The findings show that 93% of the agreed actions have reached completion or are in progress. 

National Framework and Making-Action Plan for Children and Young People's Participation in Decision-making

A Public Consultation on the next Government Policy Framework for the Participation of Children and Young People in Decision Making took place in January 2023. 

The Participation of Children and Young People in Decision Making-Action Plan 2023-2028 was developed in 2023 as a successor to the Participation Strategy and is due to be published in 2024. This Action-Plan is discussed further in Youth Wiki section 5.10 Current debates and reforms.