Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the recommendations from the commission which have been implemented since the commission on the family concluded its work; the recommendations which have yet to be implemented; if there is a planned timeframe within which these recommendations will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17641/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission on the Family was established by the Minister for Social Welfare in October 1995. Its remit was "to examine the effects of legislation and policies on families and make recommendations to the Government on proposals which would strengthen the capacity of families to carry out their functions in a changing economic and social environment".

The membership of the Commission included experts from a number of key areas including social policy, family law, education and community work. The Commission set out by inviting families, individuals and national and local voluntary organisations who work with families to assist with its work by making submissions setting out their views about the issues that affect family life and how policies, programmes and services can be improved to better support families.

Over 500 submissions were received from a mixture of organisations and individuals accurately reflecting the concerns of families at that time. The Commission concentrated on the welfare of children and vulnerable families and how public policy could best strengthen and support families in carrying out their important functions. The overall thrust of the Commission's recommendations centred on the need for public policy to focus on preventive and supportive measures to strengthen families in carrying out their functions and prevent difficulty.

In its final report, "Strengthening Families for Life", the Commission made a total of 43 recommendations for family policy. A review of the progress to date on the implementation of the recommendations was undertaken by my Department in 2005 and I am making arrangements for this review to be sent to the Deputy.