Vol. 576 No. 1
99 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress made to date with regard to the consultation process on the future development of family policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28955/03]
Families and family life are undergoing profound changes in Ireland. The main reasons include the increasing participation of women in employment, difficulties in reconciling work and family life, growing incidence of marital breakdown and lone parenthood, ageing of the population and the likely growth in the numbers of dependent elderly. I established the Family Support Agency in May of this year to draw together the main family-related programmes and services developed by the Government since 1997. Its functions include the provision of services in relation to family mediation, marriage and relationship counselling and family support services and programmes, including parenting, and support for the promotion and development of family and community services. I am currently examining the agency's draft strategic plan on implementing its functions which has recently been submitted to me.
Against this background, I commenced a nationwide consultation on the future development of family policy in May this year, five years after publication of the report of the commission on the family. The fora are designed to provide me and my officials with an opportunity to hear the views of a cross-section of family members from different regions of the country and those who work with them, including public representatives. Their views are being sought on the main challenges that confront families today, the effectiveness of Government policies and programmes in supporting families to meet these challenges, and on what the priorities should be for strengthening families. Part of the process includes workshops on parenting, balancing work and family life, the family as carer and relationships in difficulty. These workshops allow a more focused examination of the issues and the identification of the supports families need to carry out their important role.
To date four fora have been held in Donegal, Kilkenny, Cork and Galway. The final forum will take place in Dublin on 4 December. Reports on each forum meeting are being drawn up. A final thematic report that will draw together all the issues raised is being prepared. Already a clear picture is emerging of the concerns people have on family related issues, the type of policy developments desired, and the priorities for action. The thematic report is scheduled for publication in early 2004 at the start of the tenth anniversary of the UN International Year of the Family. In the context of the Irish Presidency, with the support of the EU Commission, I will be hosting an international conference entitled Families, Change and European Social Policy in Dublin on 13-14 May 2004 to mark the year. This conference will address in an international context many of the issues being discussed at the fora.
