Youth Council welcomes National Policy Framework for Young People

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has welcomed the publication today (16.04.14) of Better Outcomes: Brighter Future: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020.

Mary Cunningham, NYCI Director said:

“We now have, for the first time at Government level, a comprehensive set of national outcomes and goals relating to children and young people to work towards. This is a welcome development as it will help ensure better outcomes for young people in a wide range of areas including health, education, child protection, poverty and youth participation.”

Cross-government approach commended

“In particular, Minister Fitzgerald is to be commended for this initiative as it promotes a new culture and cross-government approach to improving outcomes for all young people,” added Ms Cunningham.

Better Outcomes: Brighter Future provides an overarching national policy framework for children and young people aged from birth to 24 years and will be implemented by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in collaboration with all Government departments and key State agencies.

Resourcing and implementation will be key

“The challenge now, however, will be to put in place the systems, ensure proper resourcing and take the actions needed to make sure that the outcomes in this policy framework can be achieved.

“One-third of our population is under the age of 25. We look forward to working with all Government Departments and agencies in their work on improving health and wellbeing, raising education levels and reducing inequality among this age group, in turn contributing to better outcomes and brighter futures for all children and young people in Ireland,” concluded Ms Cunningham.

ENDS

For further information, please contact Daniel Meister, Communications Manager at NYCI on 087 781 4903 or 01 425 5955 or email communications@nyci.ie

Notes to Editors:

National Youth Council of Ireland

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) is a membership-led umbrella organisation that represents and supports the interests of voluntary youth organisations and uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people.