Children’s Fund
- Foilsithe: 31 Márta 2023
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 12 Aibreán 2025
Summary
In The Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes Under Action 18 – Children’s Fund[i], the Government has committed to ‘honour the memory of the children who died in Mother and Baby Homes through the creation of a specific fund which supports children who experience disadvantage in the present day’
The development of the fund will be informed by learning on the impact of existing programmes and the needs emerging from the implementation of the EU Child Guarantee, recommendations of the UNCRC and direct consultation with children.
The department has established an Expert Reference Panel to support in directing use of the fund. The Panel comprises 8 academics/experts who have a broad spectrum of experience across areas that influence childhood disadvantage. It includes representatives from a broad variety of Irish institutions, across a range of disciplines serving children and young people.
The role of the panel is to guide support and advise the Child Policy and Tusla Governance Division on the design of criteria for determining how and on what the Children’s Fund is spent. Full Terms of Reference can be found here:
Membership
• Professor Sheila Greene(Chair)- Professor Greene is a retired Professor and Fellow Emeritus at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, where she was co-founder of the Children's Research Centre and the Centre for Gender and Women's Studies. Her research interests include the psychology of women and gender, child development and children's issues and developmental theory.
Other panel members:
• Dr. Karen Smith- Assistant Professor Equality Studies ,UCD
• Professor Robbie Gilligan-Social Work and Social Policy, TCD
• Dr.Muireann Ní Raghallaigh- Programme Director Professional Masters of Social Work, UCD
• Professor Saoirse Nic Gabhainn-Professor Health Promotion, NUI Galway
• Dr. Noelle Spring-former head of Katherine Howard Foundation
• Alice Malone-former programme facilitator of the Genesis Area Based Childhood Programme
• Dr. Deirdre Horgan- Vice-Head of Learning and Teaching at the School of Applied Social Studies UCC
Progress
The first meeting of the expert panel took place on 28th February. A further three meetings are scheduled during Q2 2023.