Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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129. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he received a submission from the Children's Rights Alliance in respect of the serious issues for children and young persons as outlined in the programme for Government 2011 to 2016; his plans to implement any recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8853/16]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I have received from the Children's Rights Alliance a copy of its recently published Report Card 2016. I gather that the CRA sent a copy to each member of the Oireachtas.

The Deputy will be aware that the Report Card is an established accountability tool for the CRA and its more than 100 member organisations through which it has, since 2009, scrutinised progress on the commitments to children in the Programme for Government. The most recent Report Card explores progress during 2015 against commitments in the 2011-2016 Programme for Government.

Each year, the CRA evaluates Government's delivery of its promises in six key areas - children's constitutional rights, the right to education, to health, to an adequate standard of living, to protection from abuse and neglect and the right to equality and non-discrimination. The grading is carried out by a high-level independent panel, comprising some of Ireland's leading experts in children's rights, child law, education, early years and from the trade union sector. The Report Card also provides an important resource for politicians, policy makers, service providers and non-governmental organisations and academics. The recommendations contained therein traverse the remits of my colleagues across other Government Departments as well as covering issues under the direct remit of my Department.

I would also note that a considerable number of recommendations are reflected in the commitments contained within Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, with responsibility for implementation again falling to the respective Government Departments. My Department is responsible for monitoring progress on the implementation of Better Outcomes Brighter Futuresand supporting its key implementation structures across Departments and sectors. An annual report on progress towards those commitments to April 2015 was published in 2015 with the second report covering the following year to April 2016 currently in preparation.

I can inform the Deputy that the CRA recently contacted the Secretary General in my Department to arrange a meeting to discuss issues arising from the Report Card 2016. A meeting is being arranged for the coming weeks. In addition, the Department engaged in a funding arrangement with the CRA in 2015 to support the implementation of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures.The Department has recently received correspondence from the CRA with regard to an ongoing funding support. This proposal is under active consideration. This funding arrangement recognises the work of the CRA in the areas of consultation, representation and consensus building, which has in turn supported the work and shared objectives of my Department.