Enda Kenny
Ceist:99 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the precise timescale for the implementation of his plans for a policy on children. [28771/00]
Written Answers. - National Children's Strategy.
The Government's national children's strategy, Our Children – Their Lives, was launched by the Taoiseach on 13 November, 2000. The national children's strategy maps out a plan to be implemented over the next ten years, which will provide a better way for everybody who is concerned with children's issues to work more effectively together for and with children. The strategy represents the strongest possible demonstration to date by any Government of its commitment to children through its support for parents, families and carers.
Work in relation to implementing the strategy's proposals, which cut across a wide range of policy areas, has already commenced. The national children's office has already been established on an administrative basis and work is under way to establish the proposed national children's advisory council. In addition, tenders have been invited for a design brief for the national longitudinal study of children which forms part of the strategy's research proposals. Copies of the strategy are currently being circulated around the country by the office so that local groups can consider how they can contribute to its implementation. A communications programme to support the implantation of the strategy at local level is being developed and will be led by me as I have responsibility for implementing the strategy. With regard to the implementation of the more detailed aspects of the strategy, the intention is that the national children's office will be established on a statutory basis as quickly as possible. The office will develop an annual programme of work, in consultation with Government Departments and agencies, to advance the nationals goals and objectives contained in the strategy. This work will be completed in early 2001. This will be complemented by the inclusion of the measures to be taken by relevant Departments and agencies to advance the strategy's goals and objectives in their strategy statements and accompanying business plans.