Contents

List of Acronyms …iii

Overview … 1

Methodological note … 2

Key themes … 3

Theme 1: Department-Wide Recommendations… 5

Embedding an equality, inclusion and human rights approach … 5

The Public Sector Duty … 5

Addressing a ‘fragmented policy landscape’ … 6

Equality, social inclusion and integration … 6

The impacts of Covid-19 … 7

Research and information management … 7

National and international commitments … 8

Structural reorganisation: integration of expanded remit … 9

Finance and resources … 9

Collaboration and consultation … 10

Workforce development and training … 10

Statement of Strategy: suggested rewording … 10

Theme 2: Children … 11

Collaboration and participation in decision-making … 11

Impacts of Covid-19 on children … 12

Poverty and homelessness … 12

Child protection, welfare, and adoption … 13

Better Outcomes Brighter Futures … 14

Prevention and Early Intervention … 14

Child health … 15

Research and information management … 16

Working arrangements for parents … 16

Theme 3: Early Learning and Care / School-Aged Childcare … 17

ELC and SAC system reform … 17

The ELC and SAC workforce … 18

Theme 4: Youth work and young people … 19

Youth Work… 19

Collaboration and participation in decision-making … 19

Complementing the formal education system … 20

Addressing youth unemployment … 20

Theme 5: Direct Provision and Migrant Integration … 22

The Migrant Integration Strategy … 22

The ‘Catherine Day Report’… 22

Vulnerability Assessments … 23

Tusla supports … 23

Social and cultural issues (incl. languages) … 23

Theme 6: Gender Equality … 25

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Policies, Strategies and Challenges … 25

Violence against women … 25

“Sex Work” … 25

Work and family … 26

Mother and Baby Homes … 26

Magdalene Laundries … 27

Theme 7: Traveller and Roma Communities … 28

Policies and strategies … 28

Ethnicity and Culture … 29

Housing, homelessness and Covid-19 … 29

Education … 30

Discrimination and racism … 30

Health (incl. mental health) … 30

Employment and Training … 30

Poverty … 30

Intersectionality … 31

Theme 8: Disability Policies and Services … 32

Access to Services … 32

Employment … 33

Integrating the Department’s Functions … 34

The UNCRPD and NDIS … 35

Community-Based Services … 36

Children and Youth (incl. Childcare, AIM and Progressing Disability Services) … 36

Research and Data … 38

Impacts of Covid-19 … 38

Participation in Decision-Making … 39

Leading on Interdepartmental Working … 39

Legislation … 40

The Voluntary Disability Services Sector … 40

Theme 9: LGBTI+ Policy and Strategy (Incl. youth) … 42

Strategy and Society … 42

Intersectionality … 43

LGBTI+ in Rural Communities … 43

Transgender, Intersex and Non-Binary Populations … 44

Research and Data … 44

The Impacts of Covid-19 … 45

Collaboration and Participation … 45

Discrimination and Sport … 46

Appendix … 47

List of Submissions … 47

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