Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2023
230. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the progress being made on the next national policy framework for children and young people 2023-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15404/23]
View answerThe new policy framework for children and young people (0-24), covering the period 2023-2028, is expected to be published by the middle of this year. Last year, my Department published a Blueprint of the framework, setting out the approach which will focus on realising children and young people's rights, strongly aligned to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In October, my Department published a report on the recent public consultation on the policy framework, which allowed children and young people, parents, professionals working in this sector and others to have their say on what is going well and not well for children and young people, as well as identify priorities for the new framework. In 2021 my Department carried out an extensive consultation with children and young people nationally, to inform Ireland’s reports on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UN Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities and the Universal Periodic Review. The findings were published in the 'What We Think' suite of reports, which also informed the development of the new framework, in addition to the many consultations carried out in recent years on various topics. My Department also conducted targeted consultations with specific cohorts of children and young people. The views of civil society were also sought through a series of consultations carried out on behalf of the Department by the Children's Rights Alliance. It is important that the most pressing issues, repeatedly articulated by children and young people, are addressed in the forthcoming framework.
Recently, my Department has been working with other Government Departments to agree actions for the new framework to address areas of most concern, and to build an enabling environment, where children's rights are a central consideration in all Government decision making. In parallel, my Department has consulted with key state agencies which have significant engagement with children and young people, such as An Garda Síochána, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and the HSE. I look forward to continuing this work and delivering a framework which will contribute to improving the lives of children and young people, especially those who are vulnerable, over the next six years.
