292. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the meetings she has had with her Ministerial colleagues over the summer on the resources, services and supports for children and young people that are needed to ensure youth services are available in communities. [66821/26]

I am committed to ensuring that children and young people have access to high-quality youth services and supports in their communities.

I and officials in my department continue to engage with ministerial colleagues and their departments on matters affecting children and young people. This engagement takes place on an ongoing basis through a range of fora, including bilateral discussions and established cross-Government structures, reflecting the shared responsibilities across Government for improving outcomes for young people.

Earlier this month, the first meeting of the Youth Sector Interdepartmental/Interagency group established by my department under Action 2 of Opportunities for Youth:, the national strategy for youth work and related services, took place. Departments and State organisations that fund or interact with the youth sector met to discuss areas of mutual policy interest, share current sector supports and consider future actions. The purpose of this group is to bring greater alignment across the membership with an overarching aim to develop a renewed and whole-of-government vision for the role of State-funded youth work services.

The resourcing of youth services also forms part of my department’s ongoing engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation through the annual Estimates process.

I will continue to work with colleagues across Government to support the development and resourcing of youth services and to ensure that appropriate supports are available to children and young people in communities throughout the country.