Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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887. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the level of foresight or future planning that operates within her Department; who is responsible for long-term planning; the input these individuals or teams have into Departmental policy and practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61655/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In 2025, this Department published an Areas of Priority Research Interest document, which is used as a tool in ongoing communications and interactions with the research community. The document provides a clear list of research areas that are of interest to policy makers in the Department, informs calls for evidence in the listed areas, and is a signal to the research communities interested in these topics to undertake research that will have a greater chance of impacting policy work over the coming years.

Alongside the development of medium and long-term strategies, the Department is proactive in forecasting future demand to ensure that the needs of our population are met. Departmental staff in the Research and Evaluation Unit undertake quantitative analysis to assist in forecasting future demand for services funded by the Department. This work informs future strategic options for service delivery as well as ongoing planning, budgeting and service development.

A number of DCDE strategies have a span of multiple years into the future. Examples include:

• First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028
• The National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025 – 2030
• Participation of Children and Young People in Decision-making Action Plan 2024-2028

Action 13 in the Department People Strategy, Valuing our People - Delivering Together 2024-2026 commits to “Identify emerging demands and long-term strategic objectives for the Department....” and the Department has begun exploring the area of Strategic Foresight in this regard by engaging with other public sector organisations and Government Departments who have taken a lead in this area.

The Central Bank presented on their use of Strategic Foresight to the Department’s Senior Management Team in June 2025. Officials from the Department’s Research and Evaluation and Strategic Business Change Units recently attended workshops in October hosted by the Departments of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Finance, and Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, in order to get a better understanding of an agreed approach to support this work. It is intended to run a further information session and an internal workshop to further develop the capacity of the Department’s Senior Management team in that regard.