Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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284. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her efforts to secure the access rights of grandparents to their grandchildren; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3008/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I commenced specified provisions of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 on 18 January 2016 which include provisions to make it easier for grandparents to seek access to their grandchildren. Grandparents will now be able to apply directly to the court for access to their grandchildren. The previous procedure was a two stage procedure whereby the grandparent had firstly to apply to the court for leave to make an application for access and then to apply to the court for access. The provisions that I have just commenced will assist in enabling grandparents to secure access to their grandchildren.