Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
201. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on the work underway to develop and implement the Voice of the Child Report Template and accompanying guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6092/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn October 2024, my Department established a Voice of the Child Working Group with membership comprising both statutory and voluntary stakeholders in the family justice system. The group was set up in line with the commitment in Goal One of the Family Justice Strategy, that of “supporting children”.
The group is taking forward some of the recommendations in the Review of Expert Reports, including the development of the Children’s Court Advocate Pilot Project and the development of a Voice of the Child report template and guidelines. The aim of the Voice of the Child Report Template and Guidelines is to ensure consistency of approach by experts in supporting children to have their voices heard.
As part of its work, the Voice of the Child Working Group commissioned a consultation with children and young people to inform the development of the pilot and the report template and guidelines. The Working Group has made significant progress on drafting the template and guidelines and I expect them to be published in the coming months.
My Department will shortly establish the Children’s Court Advocate Pilot Project in two locations, Waterford and Clonmel. The pilot will test a new way of hearing the voice of children in private family law cases. Running alongside the Pilot Project will be a comprehensive evaluation to assess its effectiveness in achieving its aim of improving how the voice of the child is heard and considered in private family law proceedings. A tender for this Evaluation has now been published by my Department and will be open until 4 February 2026.
