Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

I intend the strategy to be available towards the end of this year. It is important we consult with young people as well. I launched a consultation last year and I am pleased to say 67,000 children took part. I also thank the teachers and national schools that participated in that, giving us a rich body of data from young people about what they like about living in Ireland and what they would like to see improved. That is an important part of the consultation on the national children's strategy and I expect that towards the middle of this year, we will ask for submissions from a broad range of civic society on what should be in the strategy. I refer to this often when I meet groups, including those working with children with disability.

There is important work to be done to increase the focus on children's health issues. For example, basic screening for sight, hearing and speech will identify the one in six or seven children who will have difficulty in those areas. It important that we screen at an early stage, that we have a focus on children with a disability and that we have an integrated approach. I was reading research recently that showed that children with a disability who receive early care and education make much better progress than would otherwise would be the case. That is why the ECCE scheme plays a role in supporting families where children have a disability. I must work with other Departments but this must be an area where there is focus because we have not had integrated services in the past. I gave the example of the early childhood care area and working with families. There is potential there that would mean we would be to work with those children at an earlier stage, which would mean they make better progress than if the help had come at a later point.

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