The Department of Education (DE) has reviewed its Community Relations Policy and work is progressing well with plans to prepare for implementation of a new policy.

This review has taken account of the increasingly diversity context in which young people are growing up, as well as recent developments with education; including the revised curriculum, the outworkings of Bain, the impact of the Review of Public Administration (RPA) and the funding of this policy area.

It is expected that the new arrangements will support on-going work to build improved community relations, while further encouraging acceptance of diversity and contributing to the building of a more equal society.

This process is directly linked to the Youth Council’s Community Relations Youth Service Support Scheme (CRYSSS).  While funding during the 2009/2010 financial year has been issued under the current terms and conditions, these arrangements are likely change after March 2010.  YCNI will update this site as further information becomes available.