Sylda LangfordSylda LangfordDirector GeneralDirector General

Office of the Minister for Children Office of the Minister for Children (OMC)(OMC)

University College CorkUniversity College Cork27 November, 200627 November, 2006

Office of the Minister for Children

• Dec 2005 - Government Decision to create Dec 2005 - Government Decision to create the Office the Office

Functions relating to Children brought Functions relating to Children brought together under OMCtogether under OMC

Enhanced role for MinisterEnhanced role for Minister

Coordination of National Children’s Coordination of National Children’s StrategyStrategy

Key areas of Policy

National Children’s Strategy

Childcare - Implementing the National Childcare

Investment Programme (2006-2010)

Early Years Education

Youth Justice – incorporating implementation of

the Children Act

Child Welfare and Protection

Structure for ProgressStructure for Progress

Minister for Children now at Cabinet Table

Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion and

Children

Integral Part of the Department of Health and

Children

Director General attends Management Advisory

Committee of 3 Departments

Senior Officials Group on Social Inclusion

(SOGSI)

Towards 2016

Ten Year Framework Social Partnership Ten Year Framework Social Partnership Agreement 2006-2015Agreement 2006-2015

A new Framework to address key social A new Framework to address key social challenges at each stage in life cyclechallenges at each stage in life cycle

Children are one of the key lifecycle stagesChildren are one of the key lifecycle stages

Towards 2016• Chair of National Implementation Group

(NIG)

– Cross Departmental Business Plan for Children

to be developed

– Governance body for Prevention and Early Intervention Fund

– Joined up and better delivery of services

Towards 2016

• At County level – Children Services Committees (mirrors composition of NIG)

– County Level Plans will be developed

– Joined up and better delivery of services at ground level

Areas within Policies• Early Childhood Care and Education

– Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP)

• Support women’s participation in employment

• National Childcare Strategy (1999)

– New National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP 2006 -2010)

• development of quality childcare supports will build on the EOCP

– New Childcare Training Strategy (2006)

• Funding

– EOCP - €499 mil to end 2006

– Includes €297 mil capital to date

• NCIP funding from 2006 -2010 - €575mil.• €358.8mil capital• €218mil current

• Maternity leave - more support for first year of life

March 2006• Both paid mat. leave and unpaid mat. leave

increased by 4 weeks, March 2007

• Both paid mat. leave and unpaid mat. leave will increase by a further 4 weeks

Totals available by March 2007:• paid 26 weeks, • unpaid 16 weeks

And also 14 weeks unpaid parental leave available

• Early Childhood Supplement– Child benefit increase towards childcatre cost

• new quarterly payment of €250 for children under 6 - €1,000 per year per child

– Total cost €265 mil in 2006 will rise in 2007 (full year cost)

– Run by Dept Social and family Affairs for OMC

– Will be paid to 273,000 families/386,000 children

• Child Welfare and Protection Policy– Role of HSE– Development of Family Support

Services policy– Ferns– Oireachtas Committee on Child

Protection– New Regulations – Sept 2007– Children First Guidelines

Youth Justice

• New Irish Youth Justice Service• Strategy being Developed - early 2007• Budget allocation

– 2007 €16.2mil (12.6 capital),• €16.8mil Garda Diversion, etc

• Amendments to Children Act under CJ Act 2006

• Assuming responsibility for Children detention schools in early 2007

• Coordination and partnership approach

Recreation PolicyRecreation PolicyNational Recreation Policy being finalisedNational Recreation Policy being finalised

– target 12 to 18 year oldstarget 12 to 18 year olds

– Public consultation process – voice of young peoplePublic consultation process – voice of young people

– Policy going to Gov ShortlyPolicy going to Gov Shortly

– Evidence suggests children require both structured and Evidence suggests children require both structured and unstructured activitiesunstructured activities

– More facilities – expansion of existing provisionMore facilities – expansion of existing provision

– Single biggest need around youth cafésSingle biggest need around youth cafés

Prevention and Early Intervention FundPrevention and Early Intervention Fund

….• Examine innovative methods for improving outcomes

for children in an integrated way

• Small number of projects

• 3 Disadvantaged areas/strong community development

• Co-funded between The Atlantic Philanthropies and

Government - total funding 36 mil.

• Learning can be benchmarked and evaluated

• If successful – enhanced resource allocation and policy

changes to improve outcomes for all children

• Children and Young People’s participation

– Comhairle na NÓg improving operation

– Consulting youth on Age of Consent

– Student Councils

– Civil Social and Political Education

National Longitudinal Study National Longitudinal Study of Irelandof Ireland

• Study factors that undermine well being Study factors that undermine well being of childrenof children• Through this, contribute to setting effective Through this, contribute to setting effective

and responsive policies relating to childrenand responsive policies relating to children

• Monitor development of 18,000 children Monitor development of 18,000 children over 9 year periodover 9 year period

– a birth cohort of 10,000 a birth cohort of 10,000 – 8,000 at age 98,000 at age 9

• Economic and Social Research Institute and TCD Economic and Social Research Institute and TCD undertaking the Studyundertaking the Study

Other roles of the OMCOther roles of the OMC

• Ireland’s appearance before United Nations Committee on the Rights of the child (UNCRC)

• Referendum on Children’s Rights

• National Set of Child Well being Indicators and State of the Nations Children’s Report

• Ready Steady Play - a National Play

Policy (2004 -2008)

• Ratification of Hague Convention on Ratification of Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-the Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Inter-Country operation in respect of Inter-Country AdoptionAdoption