The National Children's Advisory Committee was established in May 2001. The first Council served from May 2001 until May 2004. The second term of the reconstituted Council commenced in April 2005. This second term is due to conclude in mid-2008.
The Council has an independent advisory and monitoring role in relation to the implementation of the National Children's Strategy and reports to the Minister for Children, in that regard. Its functions are:
to advise the Minister on all aspects of children's lives, including the development of child well-being indicators;
to advise the Minister on the better co-ordination and delivery of services to children;
to contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the Strategy;
to undertake and advise on research and to advise on training in relation to the Strategy;
to advise on the development of mechanisms to consult with children.
The National Children's Advisory Council provides independent advice to the Minister for Children. Through its diverse membership the Council is uniquely placed to provide advice, which reflects a combination of expertise and practical "on the ground" experience. The Council also plays an important role in monitoring the implementation of the National Children's Strategy. One of the key features of the Council, when it was first established, was that for the first time, an Advisory Council to the Minister included youth members who would work alongside nominees from the statutory and voluntary sector. The current Council includes five youth members who have been elected by the Children and Young People's Forum of the Office of the Minister for Children. Further information on the Council is available on www.ncac.ie.
The current Membership of the National Children's Advisory Council is as follows:
Chairperson
Mr Peter O'Brien
Children and Young People's Forum Representatives
Ms Nicola Conroy
Mr James Doyle
Ms Alison Jack
Ms Isobel Jones
Mr Paul O'Toole
Statutory Sector
Mr Michael O'Fiannachta, Department of Education and Science
Mr Seamus Mannion, Health Service Executive
Ms Elizabeth Canavan, Office of the Minister for Children
Mr Charlie Hardy, Office of the Minister for Children
Ms Bernie Priestly, Irish Sports Council
Ms Anne-Marie O'Connor, Department of Social and Family Affairs
Ms Mary Meaney, National Disability Authority
Mr Finbarr Murphy, An Garda Síochána
Ms Gaye Tanham, the Arts Council
Ms Sorcha Byrne, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Voluntary Sector
Ms Maria Corbett, Children's Rights Alliance
Ms Norah Gibbons, Barnardos
Ms Jackie O'Callaghan, National Parents Council / Post Primary
Mr Michael O'Connor, Focus Ireland
Mr Diarmuid Kearney, National Youth Council of Ireland
Ms Collette Murray, Pavee Point
Ms Caroline O'Sullivan, ISPCC
Sr. Catherine Prendergast, Council of Religious of Ireland
Ms Irene Gunning, National Childcare Coordinating Committee
Ms Jennifer Wallace, National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism
Research
Dr. Saoirse Nic Gabhainn, National Children's Research Advisory Board
Ministerial Nominees
Mr David Hopkins
Mr George Maybury
Dr. Dermot Stokes