296. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she can advise on when the new set of actions for Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services 2024 – 2028 will be published given the current set are due to end at the end of 2026. [66817/26]

The national strategy for youth work and related services, Opportunities for Youth (OfY), was published in September 2024. The implementation of OfY will be reported on via the Young Ireland governance structures, including the Young Ireland Advisory Council and the Children and Young People’s Policy Forum.

To deliver on its vision, OfY identifies three strategic objectives that will shape the future direction for youth work opportunities and services over the lifetime of the Young Ireland framework.

Strategic Objective 1: The role of youth work services in enhancing the lives of young people is strengthened, more visible and better aligned with other services.

Strategic Objective 2: An equality and rights-based approach is embedded across all youth work services and supporting structures.

Strategic Objective 3: Youth work services are high quality, accountable, sustainable and shaped by relevant data and evidence.

The strategy was informed by extensive consultations with young people and other stakeholders, which is reflected in its scope and ambition.

Since publication, work on the delivery of many of the 18 actions has been progressed by the department and by the youth sector. An action plan has been prepared for publication to capture the work done to date and for delivery in 2026. Further consultation on this draft with key stakeholders including the National Youth Council of Ireland and their membership, has taken place in anticipation of it being published in October this year.

The implementation of the new set of actions for Opportunities for Youth will be supported through a new National Youth Sector Reference Group (NYSRG) as well as a group comprising representatives from departments and agencies that provide funding to or interact with the youth sector (Interdepartmental and Interagency Group on State-funded Youth Work Services).

Earlier this month, the first meeting of the Interdepartmental and Interagency Group on State-funded Youth Work 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.

Once established, the NYSRG’s purpose is to provide balanced and transparent input from across the youth sector into national decision-making. The group will include representatives from national youth organisations, youth work experts, and young people themselves.

The NYSRG will be an important platform for the delivery of the current suite of OfY actions, and for the development of actions for 2027-2028. It is intended that this group will also engage with the Interdepartmental and Interagency Group on State-funded Youth Work Services, to inform national decision making.

In 2026, the core current funding allocation of €90.1 million supports existing youth services and youth organisations across both targeted and universal provision for young people. This investment supports the implementation of Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services 2024 - 2028 and reflects a strong commitment to ensuring all young people can access high-quality, inclusive supports in their communities.