Youth Policy in Ireland

Youth policy-making in Ireland is under the responsibility of the Irish government. Youth policy governance takes place at a national level in Ireland. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is the main government department responsible for youth policy in Ireland. However, many pieces of youth policy take a cross-departmental or a whole of government approach. The Youth Affairs Unit within the DCEDIY is to support the alignment of youth policies and services with other Departmental policies and services and the broader policy and services field.

The Irish youth work sector is strongly dependent on non-profit organisations, many of which are at least partially funded by the government.

The National Youth Strategy 2015-2020 was Ireland’s last national youth Strategy and the key policy document on youth policy in Ireland. It targeted children and young people aged 10-24 years. The Strategy took a cross-government, cross-sectoral, whole-of-society approach to youth policy.

The National Youth Strategy had its basis in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020. This was Ireland’s first National Policy Framework for children and young people aged 0-24 years. An updated framework for children and young people is currently being developed.