Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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272. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide details of the actions he has taken to address the Committee on the Rights of the Child's concluding observations on the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Ireland recommendation 18 (b): Strengthen measures to promote the meaningful and empowered participation of all children, including children in disadvantaged situations, within the family, the community, schools and in the realm of policymaking at the local, municipal and national levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51650/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Both my Department and other Government Departments have undertaken a series of measures to address the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child's concluding observations. In particular, in relation to recommendation 18(b), my Department has taken a leadership role in promoting the meaningful participation of children in all aspects of life.

The National Framework for Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision Making, supports departments, agencies and organisations to improve their participation practice with children and young people.

The Framework is the strategic foundation from which Hub na nÓg develops targeted policy and practical guidance.

To date, actions to implement the Framework include the delivery of a capacity building grant and participation training programmes across a variety of sectors. This includes organisations that support seldom heard children and young people, particularly those from the Traveller community, disability organisations, youth services, early years practitioners and arts organisations. In 2024, the focus will turn to sports organisations.

The forthcoming publication of the Children and Young People's Participation in Decision Making: Action Plan 2023-2028, will further build on the ambition and achievements of the first National Strategy on Children and Young People's Participation in Decision Making (2015-2020) which laid out and delivered on the cross government commitment to realising the right of children and young people to be heard when decisions that impact their lives are being made.

The Children and Young People's Participation in Decision Making Action Plan 2023-2028, being currently finalised, is a key component of the delivery of Young Ireland: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023-2028, which was launched on 21 November 2023.

My Department undertook a series of consultations with children and young people to secure their views on the implementation of children’s rights in Ireland. Two sets of consultations were undertaken. In the first, 1215 children aged between 4 and 13 years were recruited through 21 primary schools, and 46 young people aged 13 to 18 years recruited from selected Comhairle na nÓg (youth councils). Participating children and young people came from a variety of locations (urban/rural) and had a good representation of harder to reach populations. Additional consultations took place in 2022 with young carers, minority ethnic young people and young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness which informed the development of Young Ireland. Consultations with young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness also informed the development of the Youth Homelessness Strategy 2023 - 2025 (Department of Housing, 2023).

Additionally, as part of the preparation for the next State report to the UNCRC, my Department commissioned a Review of recent consultations (DCEDIY 2021) undertaken by Government Departments and State Agencies to:

(a) identify key issues raised by Children and Young People relevant to the UNCRC,

(b) provide an overview of the emerging themes relevant to the implementation of rights of children (including specific groups) and

(c) highlight any gaps raised by the consultations.

In total, 20 consultations with 14,567 children and young people aged between 5 and 26. Children and young people shared their experiences of specific services such as the child care system, adoption regulation, direct provision, and the Garda Youth Diversion Projects.

In March 2023 my Department supported the Department of Education, in establishing a dedicated unit, the Student Participation Unit, to ensure that children and young people have meaningful input into the development of Department policy. An expert group has been formed to advise the work of the new unit. This expert group is independently chaired by a renowned expert on participation of children and young people, Professor Laura Lundy.