Northern Ireland: Government launches strategy for youth in Northern Ireland

Among the ideas in the strategy, Making it r wrld 2, are proposals to explore turning schools into out-of-hours multi-agency centres similar to England's extended schools policy. The document, launched by Northern Ireland minister John Spellar, also says the Government will consider creating an adolescent health service and seeking extra resources for youth provision.

Other draft actions include an awareness-raising campaign on young people's rights.

Spellar said: "Children and young people in Northern Ireland make up a quarter of the population and this strategy signals a greater awareness of the role they play in society."

But Children in Northern Ireland, which was a member of the non-governmental organ-isation forum designing the draft strategy, criticised the lack of any funding commitments.