Vol. 501 No. 3
55 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress to date on drawing up a strategy for children; the areas which this strategy will cover; the persons involved in devising this strategy; when the work will be completed; the proposals for implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5988/99]
Work has started on the preparation of a national children's strategy and it is hoped to publish a final document by the end of this year. The areas to be dealt with in the strategy have not yet been finally decided, but the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child will significantly influence the content of the final document.
To progress this matter, and as an initial step, I am establishing a group of senior officials from the Departments centrally involved in children's issues to oversee the preparation of the strategy. I also intend to have a wide consultative process with voluntary organisations and other interested parties before the final proposals are agreed.
The publication of a comprehensive strategy document in relation to issues affecting children is a very important step which will have far reaching implications for the health, education and welfare of our children and I look forward to progressing this issue and to implementing the strategy in due course.
