Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 February 2022
175. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of Ireland’s implementation of the EU child guarantee after public consultation ended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8736/22]
View answer177. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the action plan to support a new EU child guarantee to ensure that every child has access to healthcare, education, childcare, adequate nutrition and decent housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8738/22]
View answer178. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps that are being taken to establish an EU and international unit to co-ordinate actions on child poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8739/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 175, 177 and 178 together.
My Department recently established an EU and International Unit which, among other responsibilities, will lead on the coordination across Government of the necessary actions emerging from the EU Child Guarantee. While this unit in my Department will lead on coordination matters, policy responsibility for Child Poverty resides with colleagues in the Department of Social Protection.
The Department of Social Protection also leads on the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 – 2025, aimed at reducing poverty and improving social inclusion. Relevant Officials are in contact in relation to agreeing a new child poverty target under the Roadmap, and identifying a programme of work to address child poverty under the successor framework to Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures (BOBF). In this regard I have scheduled a meeting with Minister O’Brien this month to further this work.
The EU Child Guarantee provides Ireland with an opportunity to re-focus and, where necessary, re-evaluate our approach in tackling child poverty and promoting children’s well-being. The objective of the Guarantee is to prevent and combat social exclusion by guaranteeing access for children who are in need of a range of key services and as such forms a subset to the wider issues revolving around child poverty.
The EU Child Guarantee calls on Member States to guarantee for children in need, free access to early childhood education and care; education (including school-based activities); and healthcare; and to ensure effective access to healthy nutrition, a healthy meal each school day and adequate housing. An online consultation in relation to the National Action Plan for the implementation of the EU Child Guarantee ran from 1st December 2021 until 14th January 2022. Twenty-one submissions were received from various organisations, a synopsis of which was compiled and issued for further consideration by relevant Departments.
As part of the obligations for Ireland under the Child Guarantee, DCEDIY is currently developing a National Action Plan for the Child Guarantee, in collaboration with a range of Government Departments. Responses from all relevant Departments are expected in the coming days. Following the refinement of text following inputs received, an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) will be convened to assist in the drafting and finalisation of the plan.
The effective implementation of Better Outcomes Brighter Future (BOBF) and its cross government and cross sectoral engagement will inform the implementation of the Child Guarantee National Action Plan to ensure it is collaborative, integrated and, ultimately, impactful. Identifying the most appropriate and effective structures to pursue the reforms necessary to improve outcomes for our most disadvantaged children and young people will be a particular focus of work to define the implementation structures and processes.
Finally, it is anticipated that Ireland’s National Action Plan for the Child Guarantee will be published by March 2022 following Government approval, and submitted to the EU Commission.
