Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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564. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will clarify for the purposes of developing child safeguarding policies his Department's exact definition of a child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41492/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I assume that the child safeguarding policies referred to by the Deputy are child safeguarding statements, which are provided for in section 10 of the Children First Bill, 2014. The definition of "child" for the purposes of that Bill, is set out in section 2 of the Bill, and provides it has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Child Care Act, 1991, which is as follows:

"child" means a person under the age of 18 years other than an person who is or has been married.

This definition of a child mirrors that set out in paragraph 2.1.2 of the Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2011).