Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she has identified the life skill support requirements for young persons with particular reference to the need to ensure that adequate provision is made at all levels including access to education, sport and recreational activities, health issues and social services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32527/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The National Children's Strategy (2000) identified the needs of children under a number of different objectives. Effective and responsive policy making and service provision for children and young people relies on good data and research. The Strategy is currently being reviewed and updated and this will be informed by the best available evidence. I look forward to working with my colleagues to progress the agenda across Government to equip children and young people with the necessary skills to support them through life.

At a national level, my Department has been leading out a National Children's Research Programme to advance Goal 2 of the Children's Strategy, which states that 'children's lives will be better understood '. Over this period a solid evidence base has accumulated.

The National Children's Research Programme includes:

§ Growing Up in Ireland: The National Longitudinal Study of Children;

§ Other funded research projects, which were commissioned to answer specific policy questions; and

§ The biennial State of the Nations Children Report.

A National Data and Research Strategy on Children's Lives has also been prepared by my Department for publication in 2011 and this identifies a number of data and research priorities in respect of children's lives, particularly in the area of health, education, participation, safety and economic security.

At a local level Children's Services Committees have been established to promote interagency working and plan for the integrated delivery of services in their area. There are 10 local children's services committees in place with an additional 5 at the preparatory stage. It is planned to have 20 committees in place by the end of 2012. The CSCs are chaired by the HSE and have representatives from agencies such as the local authority, Garda Síochána, Education Sector, the Probation Service and social inclusion partners and other providers of services to children who work together to promote integrated delivery of services in their respective areas. The Children Services Committee's are encouraged to;

§ prepare a socio-demographic profile of children and families in their local area, and

§ undertake an audit of services in their local area to inform their local plans for the coordinated and integrated delivery of services and improved outcomes for children and young people.