Introduction
The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) is part of the Department of Health and Children. The role of the OMCYA, which was set up by the Government in December 2005, is to improve the lives of children under the National Children’s Strategy and bring greater coherence to policy-making for children. Children now have a stronger voice on issues that affect them through the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Barry Andrews, TD, who attends all Cabinet meetings.
The OMCYA units that are part of the Department of Health and Children include:
- Minister’s Office Staff and Advisor
- Child Welfare and Protection Policy Unit
- Childcare Directorate (formerly part of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform)
- National Children and Young People’s Strategy Unit (formerly the National Children’s Office)
In addition, two other units are co-located with the OMCYA, but will continue to report to and be part of their parent departments:
- Irish Youth Justice Service (Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform)
- Early Years Education Policy Unit (Department of Education and Science)
This co-location will allow people to work side by side and provide a joined-up Government approach to the development of policy and delivery of services for children.
The key role of the OMCYA is to support the Minister in:
- implementing the National Children’s Strategy (2000 – 2010);
- implementing the National Childcare Investment Programme (2006 – 2010);
- developing policy and legislation on child welfare and child protection;
- implementing the Children Act 2001;
- implementing Towards 2016 commitments in relation to children's services.
