Joint Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration and Youth invites written submissions on General Scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill

The Joint Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration and Youth invites written submissions from interested individuals or groups on the general scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2021.

The main purpose of the General Scheme is to replace the existing provision in Section 26 of the 1991 Child Care Act. The overall objective is to ensure that the Guardian ad litem (GAL) service can be provided for all children and young people, so that their voices can be heard in child care proceedings and that this service will be of high quality and sustainable into the future. 

The Child Care (Amendment) [Guardian ad litem] Bill 2019 had completed Committee Stage when it fell with the dissolution of the Dáil in February 2020.

In October 2021, a General Scheme and Heads of Bill was approved by Cabinet and approval was granted for the priority drafting of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2021. The new Bill will include some changes to address concerns raised by stakeholders. 

The closing date for receipt of submissions is 1pm on Friday, 17 December 2021. 

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Kathleen Funchion TD said: “At its meeting on Tuesday, November 16, the Committee agreed to invite written submissions on the Bill as part of its scrutiny of the proposed legislation.” 

“All Members are united in their commitment to delivering on its oversight remit over the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth. The Committee will consider any suitable written submissions received and may decide to invite a number of contributors to public hearings, should it be considered necessary." 

“The aim of the proposed legislation is to address significant inadequacies in the existing arrangements and to extend the Guardian ad litem system to benefit the greatest number of children and young people.” 

“It is proposed to establish a new national GAL service within an Executive Office of the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth and that Tusla will no longer have any responsibility for payments to GALs. The principal aim of the Office will be to make Guardian ad litems available to all children and young people who are the subject of child care proceedings.”

More information on making a submission is available on the Committee's webpage here.