Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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486. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 586 of 27 June 2023, if the scoping exercise is complete; when proposals will be brought forward; the timeline for when he aims to have a policy commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46567/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department is currently in the final stages of completing the scoping exercise on kinship care, which will include a review of national and international literature and current best practices. Under Article 12 of the UNCRC, the child's views must be considered and taken into account in all matters affecting him or her. In order to ensure that the voice of the child is present from the earliest possible stage, consultations are being planned which will include those most directly affected by this policy. Children and young people in informal kinship care arrangements, their carers and parents will be consulted in-depth as part of the development of the policy. In line with current best practice, these consultations will be carried out by my Department and completed early next year. The scoping paper will be finalised once these important voices have been included.