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Children in Care

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 February 2022

Wednesday, 23 February 2022

Questions (181)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

181. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his policy priorities for children in State care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10238/22]

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Written answers

In 2014, my Department launched Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, (BOBF) which represented the first cross-Government overarching national children’s policy framework for children and young people. BOBF concluded at the end of 2020 and I published the final Annual Report (2020) in January 2022. At that time I stated a need to look forward in our collective efforts to further improve outcomes for children and young people in Ireland, taking the learnings from the BOBF process on board. Work has begun in my Department on the development of the successor Framework and I look forward to working with all stakeholders in its development and implementation.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is reviewing the Child Care Act 1991, following extensive consultation with stakeholders. The 1991 Act is a wide-ranging piece of legislation, which seeks to promote the welfare of children who may not receive adequate care and protection. The proposals include changes across a wide range of areas, from relatively minor or procedural issues, to more significant reform proposals. Some of the more significant areas of focus are as follows:

- It is proposed to introduce a guiding principles section to the Act, with the best interests of the child to be the paramount principle.

- Proposals to foster improved interagency cooperation include introducing a duty to cooperate and legislating for both local and national coordination bodies.

- The voice of the child is to be strengthened both in court proceedings and in decisions taken outside the court setting.

- The proposals also include amendments to existing rules for Supervision Orders, Interim Care Orders, Care Orders, Emergency Care Orders and Voluntary Care Agreements.

My Department is also developing new Guardian ad litem legislation, which aims to extend the GAL system to benefit the greatest number of children and young people, and to ensure that the best interests of children and young people are paramount in childcare proceedings. In addition, work is continuing on the reform of the family justice system by the Department of Justice, and my Department continues to be represented on the Family Justice Oversight Group in this respect.

Finally, my priority is to ensure that all children in State care receive a high quality service and are supported to reach their full potential, as children, and into adulthood. My officials liaise on an ongoing basis with Tusla officials, to identity and address issues relating to children in care as they arise, and across all the relevant settings. I also note that in the 2022 Performance Statement, I have requested that Tusla work to increase Tusla provided residential services and move towards a reduction in reliance on private provision.

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