National Governance
Young Ireland national policy framework for children and young people 2023-2028 is the current overarching policy guiding implementation and services for children and young people in Ireland. A Children and Young People’s Policy Forum has been established as part of the governance structures of Young Ireland: The Children and Young People’s Policy Forum is chaired by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, with a Deputy Chairperson from the Department of the Taoiseach.
Within the overarching Young Ireland Governance Strcutures the necessary oversight of progress under the Young Ireland Framework to 2028 is provided. The governance structures provides a mechanism for communication between senior officials and agency representatives, civil society and young people.
The objective of the Children and Young People’s Policy Forum is to drive progress of actions to improve outcomes for children and young people. CYPSC is a member of the Children and Young People's Policy Forum, represented by the National Co-ordinator for CYPSC and a local CYPSC Co-ordinator nominee.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) provide policy and strategic direction to CYPSC. National level and local level operational leadership of CYPSC is provided by TUSLA – Child and Family Agency.
A CYPSC National Implementation Group. established in 2016, comprising of representatives from DCEDIY and Tusla ensures CYPSC continue to be positioned as an effective inter-agency co-ordination and collaboration structure to achieve the best outcomes for all children and young people.
Read about CYPSC Planning and Reporting here.
National Co-ordinator for CYPSC
The National Co-ordinator for Children and Young People's Services Committees role is to
- Provide leadership for CYPSC at national level and lead the implementation of the strategic plan for CYPSC.
- Ensure there is coherence and that a common approach is adopted across CYPSC and that CYPSC are embedded into the wider system.
- Build understanding of and commitment to CYPSC at local and national level.
- Provide and co-ordinate support for CYPSC e.g. research and data, communications, facilitation and implementation including support to individual CYPSC at start-up stage and as required thereafter.
- Have oversight of progress and impact of CYPSC, co-ordinating collective reporting to the national CYPSC Steering Group and DCYA, ensuring accountability and a focus on learning.
- Harness the knowledge and expertise of CYPSC to influence and inform national policy and strategy.
The National Co-ordinator for CYPSC leads the CYPSC Co-ordinators' National Network. This national network's purpose is to support and inform the strategic and operational development of CYPSC. Visit the Co-ordinators' Network page to find out more.
Local Governance
Locally the Chairperson role of each CYPSC is undertaken by the local Tusla Area Manager. The relevant local authority, City or County Council, fulfills the role of Vice Chairperson. You can find more detail on the Operation and Membership of CYPSC here.
Each local CYPSC develops and implements a 3-year Children and Young People's Plan. In doing this the CYPSC will identify and agree key priorities for children and young people with the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) for inclusion in the county's Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP). There will be a two-way relationship wherein local CYPSC and LCDCs will inform each other on relevant discussions. In relation to economic related priorities CYPSC and the local authority's Strategic Policy Committee for Economic Development and Enterprise (SPC) will inform each other on relevant discussions.
Children and Young People's Services Committee members are accountable to each; other ensuring follow through on commitments made at the committee table, and committing to work collaboratively to the common CYPSC agenda.
Please click here for more information on the composition of Children and Young People's Services Committees.