Sylda Langford Director General Office of the Minister for Children (OMC) University College Cork 27 November, 2006

Office of the Minister for Children Dec Government Decision to create the OfficeDec Government Decision to create the Office  Functions relating to Children brought together under OMC  Enhanced role for Minister  Coordination of National Children’s Strategy

Key areas of Policy  National Children’s Strategy  Childcare - Implementing the National Childcare Investment Programme ( )  Early Years Education  Youth Justice – incorporating implementation of the Children Act  Child Welfare and Protection

Structure for Progress  Minister for Children now at Cabinet Table  Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion and Children  Integral Part of the Department of Health and Children  Director General attends Management Advisory Committee of 3 Departments  Senior Officials Group on Social Inclusion (SOGSI)

Towards 2016  Ten Year Framework Social Partnership Agreement  A new Framework to address key social challenges at each stage in life cycle  Children are one of the key lifecycle stages

Towards 2016 Chair of National Implementation Group (NIG) –Cross Departmental Business Plan for Children to be developed –Governance body for Prevention and Early Intervention Fund –Joined up and better delivery of services

Towards 2016 At County level – Children Services Committees (mirrors composition of NIG) –County Level Plans will be developed –Joined up and better delivery of services at ground level

Areas within Policies Early Childhood Care and Education –Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) Support women’s participation in employment National Childcare Strategy (1999) –New National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP ) development of quality childcare supports will build on the EOCP –New Childcare Training Strategy (2006)

Funding –EOCP - €499 mil to end 2006 –Includes €297 mil capital to date NCIP funding from €575mil. €358.8mil capital €218mil current

Maternity leave - more support for first year of life March 2006 Both paid mat. leave and unpaid mat. leave increased by 4 weeks, March 2007 Both paid mat. leave and unpaid mat. leave will increase by a further 4 weeks Totals available by March 2007: paid 26 weeks, unpaid 16 weeks And also 14 weeks unpaid parental leave available

Early Childhood Supplement –Child benefit increase towards childcatre cost new quarterly payment of €250 for children under 6 - €1,000 per year per child –Total cost €265 mil in 2006 will rise in 2007 (full year cost) –Run by Dept Social and family Affairs for OMC –Will be paid to 273,000 families/386,000 children

Child Welfare and Protection Policy –Role of HSE –Development of Family Support Services policy –Ferns –Oireachtas Committee on Child Protection –New Regulations – Sept 2007 –Children First Guidelines

Youth Justice New Irish Youth Justice Service Strategy being Developed - early 2007 Budget allocation –2007 €16.2mil (12.6 capital), €16.8mil Garda Diversion, etc Amendments to Children Act under CJ Act 2006 Assuming responsibility for Children detention schools in early 2007 Coordination and partnership approach

Recreation Policy National Recreation Policy being finalised –target 12 to 18 year olds –Public consultation process – voice of young people –Policy going to Gov Shortly –Evidence suggests children require both structured and unstructured activities –More facilities – expansion of existing provision –Single biggest need around youth cafés

Prevention and Early Intervention Fund Prevention and Early Intervention Fund …. Examine innovative methods for improving outcomes for children in an integrated way Small number of projects 3 Disadvantaged areas/strong community development Co-funded between The Atlantic Philanthropies and Government - total funding 36 mil. Learning can be benchmarked and evaluated If successful – enhanced resource allocation and policy changes to improve outcomes for all children

Children and Young People’s participation –Comhairle na NÓg improving operation –Consulting youth on Age of Consent –Student Councils –Civil Social and Political Education

National Longitudinal Study of Ireland Study factors that undermine well being of childrenStudy factors that undermine well being of children Through this, contribute to setting effective and responsive policies relating to childrenThrough this, contribute to setting effective and responsive policies relating to children Monitor development of 18,000 children over 9 year periodMonitor development of 18,000 children over 9 year period –a birth cohort of 10,000 –8,000 at age 9 Economic and Social Research Institute and TCD undertaking the StudyEconomic and Social Research Institute and TCD undertaking the Study

Other roles of the OMC Ireland’s appearance before United Nations Committee on the Rights of the child (UNCRC) Referendum on Children’s Rights National Set of Child Well being Indicators and State of the Nations Children’s Report

Ready Steady Play - a National Play Policy ( ) Ratification of Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co- operation in respect of Inter-Country AdoptionRatification of Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co- operation in respect of Inter-Country Adoption