National policy on children and young people

The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People covers policy issues such as:

• Early childhood care and education
• Youth justice
• Child welfare and protection
• Children and young people's participation in decision-making
• Research on children and young people
• Youth work

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is responsible for the national policy for children and young people.

The most recent national policy for children and young people is called Young Ireland: National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023-2028 (pdf). The previous framework was ‘Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures 2014-2020 (pdf)’.

Young Ireland (pdf) outlines a shared set of goals for children and young people from birth to 24 years, including to:

• Be active and healthy, with positive physical and mental wellbeing
• Achieve their full potential in all areas of learning and development
• Be safe and protected from harm
• Have economic security and opportunity
• Be connected, respected and contributing to their world

All Government departments, agencies, statutory services and the voluntary and community sectors aim to work towards these goals.

The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People is a universal strategy for all children and young people in Ireland and particularly targets children and young people:

• Experiencing poverty
• Experiencing challenges in mental health and well-being
• Who have a disability
• In foster care, care and aftercare
• Who are victims and/or witnesses of crime
• Without access to housing

The National Strategy for Research and Data on Children’s Lives 2011–2016 (pdf) set out a plan for research and data on children’s lives in Ireland over the period 2011–2016 and after that.

The strategy recognises the importance of having good information to help understand how children and young people are developing, as well as how policies and services impact on their lives.

The National Strategy on Children and Young People's Participation in Decision-Making (2015–2020) (pdf) was developed as part of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, 2014-2020 (pdf).

The strategy identified actionable objectives, including:

• 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 system
• 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

The current National Framework for Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making (pdf) provides guidance for decision-makers on the steps to take to give children and young people a meaningful voice in decision-making. A youth-friendly version called Participation of Children and Young People in Decision-Making Action Plan 2024-2028 (pdf) is also available.

Hub na nÓg is the national centre for the coordination in children and young people’s participation in decision making. Hub na nÓg is a Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth (DCEDIY) initiative to provide Government departments, state agencies, public service and non-government organisations with opportunities for children and young people to participate in decision-making.

The National Youth Strategy 2015–2020 (pdf) has its basis on the National Policy Framework ‘Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures’.

The strategy set out the Government’s aims and objectives for young people aged 10 to 24 years, so that they could achieve the goals and outcomes set out in the policy framework. Marginalised or disadvantaged young people were identified as a specific target group within the National Youth Strategy 2015-2020.

Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSCs) are county level committees responsible for improving the lives of children and families at local and community level, through integrated planning, working and service delivery.

All major organisations and agencies working locally on behalf of children and young people are represented on CYPSCs.

The CYPSCs make sure that professionals and agencies work together, so that children and families get better and more accessible services. Their role is to enhance interagency co-operation and to realise the national outcomes set out in Young Ireland National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023-2028 (pdf).

Find more information about CYPSCs on the CYPSC website.

The United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is a major international human rights treaty that sets out the specific rights of children. The UNCRC was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989 and Ireland ratified it in 1992.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (pdf) covers many issues, such as:

• Health
• Housing
• Social security
• Education
• Leisure and play
• Child protection and welfare
• Criminal justice
• International protection
• Access to information
• Participation in decision-making

Ireland submits regular reports to the UN Committee about the implementation of rights under the Convention. Ireland also appears before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child for an oral examination.

In February 2022, Ireland submitted its combined fifth and sixth periodic reports under the Convention to the UN Committee, and then attended an oral hearing with the Committee. In February 2023, the Committee published its Concluding Observations on the Irish reports. Young Ireland: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023-2028 (pdf) was written with the UNCRC’s Concluding Observations in mind, and in response to many of its recommendations.

You can get more information about the National policy for children and young people in Ireland from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.