Key themes

A total of 9 overarching themes were identified, with a range of associated sub-themes. The themes capture the main suggestions and recommendations provided across the submissions. A broad overview of issues emerging under each theme (and sub-theme) will be presented in this report. The nine themes, as outlined in this report, will include reference to frequency of occurrence across the 119 references and the relevant submission source. Chosen themes are based on frequency of reference, rather than by weight given to a specific theme or individual submission.

It may be noted that a number of cross-cutting issues were identified across the nine themes. These included the sourcing and use of finance and resources; the need to deepen and expand interdepartmental and key stakeholder collaboration, engagement, and consultation; the impacts of Covid-19 on populations served by the Department; and the importance of adopting a human rights and intersectional approach when considering issues relevant to these populations.

Note: in the thematic discussion that follows, for brevity acronyms are used to refer to the individual submissions. A list of these acronyms is available at the beginning of this report.

The overarching themes (and sub-themes) identified are as follows:

Themes	Sub-themes
Department-Level	Embedding an equality, inclusion and human rights approach
Recommendations	Research and information management
	National and international commitments
	Structural reorganisation: integration of expanded remit
	Finance and resources
	Collaboration and consultation
	Workforce development and training
	Statement of Strategy: suggested rewording
Children	Collaboration and participation in decision-making
	The impacts of Covid-19 on children
	Poverty and homelessness
	Child protection, welfare and adoption
	Better Outcomes Brighter Futures
	Prevention and early intervention
	Child health
	Research and information management
	Working arrangements for parents
ELC & SAC	ELC and SAC system reform
	ELC and SAC workforce
Youth services	Youth work
	Collaboration and participation in decision-making
	Complementing the formal education system
	Addressing youth unemployment
Direct Provision and	The Migrant Integration Strategy
Migrant Integration	Catherine Day Report
	Tusla supports
	Social and cultural issues (incl. languages)

	Vulnerability assessments
Gender Equality	Policies, strategies and challenges
	Violence against women
	‘Sex Work’
	Work and family
	Mother and baby homes
	Magdalene laundries
Traveller and Roma	Policies and strategies
Communities	Ethnicity and culture
	Housing, homelessness and Covid-19
	Education
	Discrimination and racism
	Health (incl. mental health)
	Employment and training
	Poverty
	Intersectionality
Disability policy, strategy	Access to services
and services	Employment
	Integrating the Department’s functions
	The UNCRPD and NDIS
	Community-based services
	Children and youth (incl. childcare)
	Research and data
	Impacts of Covid-19
	Participation in decision-making
	Leading on Interdepartmental working
	Legislation
	The voluntary disability sector
LGBTI+ Policy and	Strategy and society
Strategy (incl. youth)	Intersectionality
	LGBTI+ in rural communities
	Transgender, intersex and non-binary populations
	Research and data
	Impacts of Covid-19
	Collaboration and participation
	Discrimination and sport