History

The YPSP was originally the Teen Parents Support Programme (TPSP) established in 2000 by the Department of Health and Children, in recognition of the fact that young parents and their children benefit from additional supports targeted at their specific needs.

The TPSP is funded by the HSE, and Tusla Child and Family Agency.

Between 2000 and 2023 the TPSP supported approximately 9,500 young parents, their children, partners and families. At any one time the TPSP supports approximately one third of all teen parents in Ireland. One of the aspirations of the TPSP is that eventually all teen parents in the Republic of Ireland will have access to this service. 

The TPSP National Advisory Committee and the National TPSP Manager have worked towards expansion in recent years. Following developments in 2022, the TPSP will now be further developed and expanded with funding under the European Social Fund Plus programme, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, following growing recognition of the increased need for this level of dedicated support for young parents. The overall objective and goal is that every young parent in the Republic of Ireland will have access to a YPSP locally.