Project Governance

Effective project governance will be a vital component in facilitating the success of the project to reform the YSGS.

The governance underpinning the project to reform the YSGS has four discrete, but inter-locking elements

1. Overarching Governance Model

2. Project Steering Committee (PSC)

3. Project Advisory Group (PAG)

4. Project Working Groups

The overarching Governance Model illustrates the core decision-making processes involved in the project, and how these will interface with existing reporting structures within DCEDIY. It also captures how the members of the Project Team will interact with the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and Project Advisory Group (PAG) and how Working Groups are designed to support the Project Team in pursuit of particular objectives and deliverables.

Acronyms referenced in Governance Model:

DCEDIY - Department of Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth

YRSP - Youth Reform Strategy and Participation Unit

YAU - Youth Affairs Unit

DCEDIY Support Units - Research and Evaluation Unit & Communications Unit

Project Steering Committee

The Project Steering Committee (PSC) will be the key decision-making forum for the Youth Services Grant Scheme (YSGS) Reform project. All reforms to the YSGS are to be approved by the PSC and its role will be to ensure that these reforms are in line with the objectives and deliverables outlined in the Policy Option Paper and Project Implementation Plan.

The PSC had its first meeting in March 2022 and it is planned for this body to meet on a monthly basis.

Project Advisory Group

The purpose of the Project Advisory Group (PAG) is to provide high-level advice and support to the YSGS Project Team and Steering Committee as required/requested. The Project Advisory Group (PAG) is comprised of stakeholders with expertise and experience of youth work and the needs of young people addressed by youth work in Ireland. This includes representatives of the youth sector, alongside a subject matter expert, representatives from government and non-government agencies with knowledge and experience of the youth sector, and four youth representatives, under an independent Chairperson.

The YSGS reform PAG held its first meeting 1st July 2022 and is scheduled to sit between 4 and 6 times annually.

Working Groups

The Project Team will establish working groups to bring proposals on domain-specific tasks to the Project Steering Committee for approval/input. In utilising working groups for support and additional insight, the Project Team is hoping to expand its capabilities to progress multiple work streams in parallel with one another.

Current Working Groups:

1. Policy intent and vision