Written answers

Tuesday, 17 May 2022

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Child Poverty

Photo of Gary GannonGary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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558. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her views in relation to the public consultation on the status of Ireland publishing a plan to support the implementation of the European Union child guarantee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24948/22]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I believe that significant progress can be made through my Department’s coordination of the EU Child Guarantee, an important initiative which aims to combat social exclusion by guaranteeing access for children who are in need of a range of key services.

The EU Child Guarantee calls on Member States to guarantee for children in need, free access to early childhood education and care; education (including school-based activities); and healthcare; and to ensure effective access to healthy nutrition, a healthy meal each school day and adequate housing. An online consultation in relation to the National Action Plan for the implementation of the EU Child Guarantee ran from 1 December 2021 until 14 January 2022. Twenty-one submissions were received from various organisations, a synopsis of which was compiled and issued for further consideration by relevant Departments.

As part of the obligations for Ireland under the Child Guarantee, my Department developed a National Action Plan for the Child Guarantee, in collaboration with a range of Government Departments. An Interdepartmental Group (IDG) was convened to assist in the drafting and finalisation of the Plan.

I hope to publish our National Action Plan for the Child Guarantee in the coming weeks, having first submitted the Plan to Cabinet for consideration.

Tackling child poverty and effectively implementing the Child Guarantee will require the commitment and active and sustained participation of my colleagues across government to ensure it is collaborative, integrated and, ultimately, impactful.

As part of the EU Child Guarantee process, and in developing the successor national policy Framework to Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, I will be engaging with my cabinet colleagues to consider the most appropriate and effective structures to pursue the reforms necessary to improve outcomes for our most disadvantaged children and young people. The Child Guarantee will form part of the broader body of work supported by the new National Policy Framework for Children and Young People and its implementation structures.

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