Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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122. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if changes have been made, or are planned, as a result of the findings to date of the Child Care Law Reporting Project, including an indicative timeframe of when any changes might be implemented. [2128/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Child Care Law Reporting Project (CCLRP) is an independent project established with the support of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the One Foundation and Atlantic Philanthropies.

The aims and objectives of the project are to:

- Provide information to the public on child care proceedings in the courts;

- Conduct research on these proceedings in order to promote debate and inform policy-makers;

- Make recommendations to address any short-comings in the child care system identified by the research;

- Assist in the implementation of these recommendations;

- Promote confidence in the child care system.

The project pursues its aims and objectives by attending the courts where child care cases are heard in order to report on those proceedings while protecting the anonymity of the children and their families.

The project provides a measure of the effectiveness of current systems and policies in the area of child protection and of court administration. Ultimately it is assisting the Department in gaining a greater depth of knowledge and understanding of child care cases and is increasing the evidence base on which future policy formulation is based.

The Child Care Law Reporting Project publishes reports of child care cases before the courts. It collects and analyses data from the proceedings on the nature and outcomes of the child care proceedings and seeks to promote a public debate on the issues raised through seminars and conferences. This includes small round-table sessions with key policy makers and practitioners. To date, the project has published four volumes of case reports each year in 2013 and 2014 as well as two interim reports, published in November 2013 and October 2014. This work informs Tusla practice and policy on an ongoing basis. Issues raised are also informing the Department's policy and legislative programme. This includes a proposed review of the Child Care Act 1991 which is currently being scoped.