Ministers outline priorities for children and young people

Junior Minister Kelly said that their Office had engaged with a series of NGOs and voluntary organisations which represent children and young people and added that they hope to re-establish a Ministerial sub-committee on the issue as it was a cross-cutting issue across all government departments. This Ministerial sub-committee would be the key driver and there was a need for all Ministers to be proactive.

Junior Minister Paisley stated that the recently agreed budget was good for children and young people and pointed out their Office’s role was to assist other Ministers in delivering on their commitments. He added that OFMDFM was committed to working with the sector and will invite them to feed into their work plans in relation to children and young people.

Other activities

Other planned activities included providing the opportunity for young people to input directly into their plans and the organisation of a Youth Assembly Debate day. OFMDFM also intended to build upon the work of the All Party Assembly Group on Children and Young People by co-hosting an MLA information session.

Funding concerns

In response to concerns that money for children and young people was not ‘ring-fenced’ within each department and there was a danger money may be used to fund other activities, Junior Minister Kelly responded that as each department had signed up to the Children’s and Young People’s Strategy, if a department was not fulfilling its commitments the matter can be brought to the Executive.

The issue of the ending of the Children’s Fund was also raised. Junior Minister Paisley replied that the Children’s Fund was a one off fund and it was now up to each department to “step up to the mark” whilein relation to child poverty, a joined up policy across all departments was needed so that all children at risk were “lifted up”.