Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2025
423. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will report on the work of the Family Justice Strategy 2022 - 2025, a Family Justice Training Working Group; the status of the review into existing training needs for those working within family justice; the timeframe in which he intends effective and relevant training programmes will be developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53391/25]
View answerThe Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025 is the ambitious programme of reform developed by my Department which sets out a vision for a system refocused on the needs and rights of children, who are central to many family justice matters.
As the strategy was developed, my Department listened to and acknowledged the many issues and concerns about how the current system operates. The actions stress the centrality of children to many family justice matters, and the need to ensure their best interests are considered in conjunction with their constitutional rights. The actions within the Strategy are aimed at ensuring the family justice system works better for all those engaged with it but particularly for those who need additional supports and protection.
Goal 5 of the Family Justice Strategy includes a commitment to establish a Working Group to:
1. Research the minimum standards and recommended training required for professions working in the family justice area;
2. Identify professional development opportunities to address identified gaps relevant to profession/relevant to all where appropriate; and
3. Engage with educational and professional bodies and associations to develop and implement training across professions in core family justice areas e.g. child-centred approach, dispute resolution, trauma-informed practice to review existing training needs for those working within family justice and to develop effective and relevant training programmes.
This Working Group was established in July 2024 and comprises membership from key government departments, state agencies and legal professional bodies. It has meet on a number of occasions. In advance of the Group’s next meeting, which is planned to take place in the near future, a draft paper informed by the work of the Group examining the minimum standards and recommended training is currently being prepared by my officials for the Working Group’s consideration.
