Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004
84 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the action he intends to take as a result of the study commissioned under his Department’s family research programme, From Child to Adult; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33496/04]
View answerThe study From Child to Adult is a longitudinal study of Irish children and their families. This study was co-funded by the family support agency and the Department of Social and Family Affairs under the families research programme.
It is based on an original study undertaken in 1990 when high rates of behavioural deviance were found in children attending schools in disadvantaged areas. At the same time, a sub-sample of 185 children and their families studied in more detail indicated that one in six of the children and one third of the mothers showed evidence of psychiatric disorder associated with economic disadvantage and lack of social support.
One of the main aims of the follow-up research, conducted ten years later, was to identify if any of the negative factors identified in the earlier study were connected to long-term outcomes for the children.
The findings of the study point to the resilience of children and the study concludes that overall behavioural difficulties exhibited in the earlier study proved to be short term. The study also found, however, that children with behavioural difficulties early in life can suffer in terms of educational achievement. It indicates that those children who leave school early are also more likely to get into trouble with the law. The authors also stress the link between economic and educational disadvantage and point out that the children interviewed for this report have indeed benefited from the upturn in the economy.
The study clearly illustrates the value of taking a longitudinal approach in determining the more appropriate policies and supports for families and children. Problems identified at one stage of a child's life may not have the long term consequences anticipated, but may have other consequences that require an appropriate response. The information obtained clearly makes for more effective policy development, which is especially significant given the importance of maximising the well-being of children.
My Department and the Department of Health and Children, through the National Children's Office, are co-funding a major national longitudinal study of children, the biggest of its kind to be undertaken in this State. It is anticipated that 10,000 children from birth and 8,000 children aged nine will be recruited to participate in the study. The aim is to investigate the factors which contribute to, or undermine, the well-being of all children in contemporary Irish families and, through this, contribute to the setting of effective and responsive policies relating to children and to the design of services for children and families.
The study is now at the tendering stage and should commence next year. It will provide ongoing information and analysis on the progress of our children through key life stages and show how effective policies are in supporting children and their families and the further policy development and resources required.
The challenges faced by children and their families are multidimensional and require multi-policy responses. The national children's strategy is co-ordinated by the National Children's Office under the aegis of the Department of Health and Children. The provision of support for disadvantaged children and families is also a key priority of the national action plan for inclusion, co-ordinated by the office for social inclusion.
The preparation of a strategy for families in a changing society is currently at an advanced stage and being co-ordinated by the family affairs unit of my Department. This will focus on the supports families need to meet the challenges arising from the profound and rapid changes taking place, and should be well in place when the longitudinal study comes on stream.
Through these initiatives, the Government is determined to ensure that our children get the best possible start in life and adequate support along the way. A key part of this is to ensure that we have the policies to achieve that objective and that we use the resources devoted to them to best effect.
