Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2022
123. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of a research project launched by his Department (details supplied); and the date upon which he expects the project to be completed. [36554/22]
View answerThank you for your question Deputy Tóibín.
I was delighted to launch the commencement of this research and data project in January, which will examine the lives of children in care and adults who were in care as children.
The project is comprised of a suite of research and data activities that will strengthen our understanding of the lives of children in care, and adults who have been in care. This work will provide us with much needed insights into their experiences and valuable evidence about their outcomes.
It is important to say that, on the information currently available, the Irish care system compares favourably with that in other similar countries. However, we do not understand enough of the individual circumstances of children, nor do we have enough evidence about the factors that support young adults achieve fulfilled lives.
This project is a crucial step in gaining this knowledge and it will inform the development of effective and responsive policies in my Department and services, across government, that best serve the needs of children and young people in the care of the state.
As the Deputy may be aware the impetus for this project was Action 65 in the Ryan Report Implementation plan, which recommended that the HSE commence longitudinal research with young people leaving care over a ten year period. At various times over subsequent years consideration was given by my Department as to how best to address this recommendation and I am very pleased to advise the Deputy that the work on this project has commenced.
The project will be carried out using a combination of primary research and strengthened administrative data collection and analysis. It will comprise cross sectional research on young adults who left care about ten years ago, a ten-year longitudinal study of young people transitioning from care in line with the Ryan Report recommendation, and other bespoke studies on children in care to complement improved system data. It will be led by my Department, with Tusla as a key partner.
This project is a key priority of mine and I, and my officials, believe that developing this project in partnership with children in care, young adults in aftercare, their carers and others involved in service provision will be crucial to its success.
A small project team has been established within my Department and towards the end of the summer that team will be joined by a member of staff from Tusla.
The initial stage of project development is underway and work on a project plan has commenced, including consideration of governance structures and design, timelines and costings for each of the various elements of the project and a communications strategy.
A key first step in the project plan will be to establish a steering group, with the involvement of key stakeholders, services providers, young people who have experience of the care system and other expert input.
The first piece of work to be carried out will be the cross sectional research with young people who left the care system ten years ago. Planning for this piece of work is well underway and it will be tendered for via public procurement on eTenders in the coming days.
At this point, it is difficult to provide a precise time frame for the project. However, given that a longitudinal study on young people leaving care over a ten-year period is a key aspect of the project, it is safe to assume that this project will be in progress over a period of ten years and more.
