Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2022
166. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the development of the successor to the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures National Policy Framework for Children and Young People including consultation mechanisms to ensure the voices of children and young persons are heard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5437/22]
View answerCarefully listening to the voices of children and young people is centrally important when devising any new policy which will affect their lives. It is particularly important now that we are developing a successor policy framework to Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People.
On Thursday, 27 January I launched a public consultation which will give children and young people, parents, practitioners and others working with children and young people, as well as the wider public, the opportunity to input into the successor framework. This consultation seeks general views on what is going well in children and young people's lives, and what is not going well. I am looking forward to working with my officials to ensure the feedback we receive from the whole of society influences the new policy framework when the consultation closes on Monday, 28 February.
However, I also recognise that we need to take additional steps to listen to the voices of groups who have not been heard sufficiently in the past. My Department has studied the many consultations undertaken by Government in the recent past to identify cohorts with whom specific consultation will be required. My Department will also make use of existing Government consultations to inform a policy framework which will deliver meaningful change in children and young people's lives.
The new policy framework will be developed to incorporate the EU Child Guarantee National Action Plan, which I will bring to government shortly. The plan will address a number of critical matters: securing free access to early childhood education and care; education; healthcare for children in need; healthy nutrition; and adequate housing.
With a strong focus on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and having regard to the government's wellbeing framework, the new framework will be one which can promote social progress and better standards of life and deliver the special care and assistance due to all children, particularly the most vulnerable.
