Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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21. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the findings on the right to equality and non-discrimination of Traveller and migrant children contained in the Children's Rights Alliance Report Card 2014; her plans to immediately address these deficiencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14008/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I note the concerns expressed in the Children’s Rights Alliance’s Report Card 2014 in relation to improving the lives of Traveller and migrant children. The Programme for Government commits the Government to promoting greater coordination and integration of delivery of services to the Traveller and migrant community across Government, using available resources more effectively to deliver on principles of social inclusion, particularly in the area of Traveller education.

The National Children and Young People’s Policy Framework, which I plan to launch shortly, will cover the seven year period from 2014 to 2020 and will address Government commitments in relation to Traveller and migrant children.

Eighteen youth projects receive funding targeted at young travellers, separated children seeking asylum and young refugees. These projects offer a wide range of programmes and services aimed at young people at risk of early school-leaving, truancy, social exclusion, substance misuse and involvement in crime. Funding for these projects in 2014 will amount to approximately €1.6 million. In addition in 2014 over €0.2 million is being provided to INVOLVE, formerly known as the National Association of Traveller Centres, under the Youth Service Grant Scheme.

With regard to education, through its various interventions in the education sector, the Government is committed to improved retention rates, better learning experiences and improved outcomes for all children, including children who are members of the Travelling and migrant community. Recorded overall Traveller participation rates in education in recent years has shown a steady increase, as do rates for participation in the junior cycle and for progression to senior cycle. The new Child and Family Agency also has a role to play in the context its statutory remit for services previously provided by the National Educational Welfare Board, relating to educational welfare and school completion.

For separated children seeking asylum, the Child and Family Agency has a national operational policy on the standards and services to be provided. The policy seeks to achieve equity and equality of services to separated children seeking asylum vis a vis all children at risk and to ensure that there is no differentiation of care provision, practices, priorities, standards or protocols for such children. In April 2013, a report commissioned from Barnardos and entitled "Foster Care and Supported Lodgings for Separated Asylum Seeking Young People in Ireland: The views of children, carers and stakeholders" was launched. The research showed that enormous improvement had been made in terms of the care being provided to separated children.

On the subject of immigrant integration, the Government decided to commence a review of the current integration strategy with the intention of developing a modern, cross-Departmental policy for the coming years, encompassing a whole of Government approach. A high level committee has been established under the auspices of the Department of Justice and Equality, and an official from my Department attended its inaugural meeting yesterday. My Department is also represented on the National Traveller Monitoring and Advisory Committee, which is under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality.