Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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525. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to introduce a baby box for children; the steps she has taken in regard to the matter to date; the estimated annual cost of this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46916/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families has recently been approved by Government and will be published on 19th November. The Strategy sets out a vision for early childhood and a roadmap for the coming decade.

One of the actions in the Strategy is to pilot the introduction of baby boxes and Dormant Accounts funding has been secured for this project.

Baby boxes will contain a range of practical and useful items and information resources to support the transition to and early stages of parenthood. The project will pilot and test the design, items for inclusion, procurement, registration and distribution of Baby Boxes in a selected geographic area. The pilot phase of the project will also include the development of accompanying information resources and training of staff involved in roll out.

Background scoping has been undertaken for this project in order to prepare the proposal for funding from Dormant Accounts. Following the publication of the Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families the project will be further advanced. €700,000 has been secured for the first phase of the pilot. It is envisaged that this will be a multi-year project which will seek a further allocation from the Dormant Accounts Fund in a future Action Plan to conclude its rollout.

There will be a significant emphasis in the pilot on evaluation of impact of the measure with a view to determining whether it is suitable for wider roll out.