Over sixty senior managers and leaders from stakeholder organisations met to discuss data sources, the needs of children and young people and service gaps in order to inform a socio-demographic mapping and needs analysis of the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown area.
Joanne Cullen, Chair of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown (DLR) CYPSC and Tusla - Child and Family Agency Area Manager, welcomed meeting participants and stated
‘Tusla Child and Family Agency are pleased to chair this important new CYPSC initiative in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown to support all services working with children and young people to engage in quality interagency service planning, service delivery and service evaluation. Timely, responsive and evidence-informed services are crucial to securing positive outcomes for children and young people.’
Philomena Poole, Chief Executive of DLR County Council addressed participants and stated:
‘The Council is delighted to be working together with Tusla Child and Family Agency and other agencies in the county to create the DLR CYPSC and to prepare a three-year Children and Young People’s Plan to help all children and young people in the county to achieve their full potential. I am very happy to be here at today’s Inter-Agency Forum to support the commencement of this process.’
Lorna Kerin, recently appointed Co-ordinator of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown (DLR) CYPSC, facilitated the large stakeholder event aimed at informing the commissioning of an area socio-demographic mapping and needs analysis.
Derbhala Lawson, Director of Economic, Community and Cultural Development with DLR County Council and Chairperson of the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) spoke of the strong commitment of the DLR LCDC to working well with the DLR CYPSC to align strategic objectives to benefit children, young people and families.
Aoife Dowling, from the All Island Research Observatory in National University of Ireland Maynooth, presented on what public national and regional demographic data sets can tell us about children and young people in DLR with regards to each of the five national outcomes outlined in ‘Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures’ the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People.
The large gathering of over sixty participants were then engaged in dynamic discussion about what data is already known and what is required to evidence how children and young people in Dún Laoighaire Rathdown are doing with regards to the five national outcome areas.
These discussions took place at thematic roundtables relevant to stakeholders' services, including ‘Early Years Services’, ‘Educational Services’, ‘Community Services’, ‘Youth Services’, ‘Mental Health Services’, ‘In/After Care Services’, and ‘Area Leadership’.
UCD Office of Community Engagement kindly provided expert facilitators for each table to ensure discussion was focused, inclusive and noted.
At the close of the event, Lorna Kerin observed
‘This large turnout of senior managers and service leaders for this consultative event demonstrates the clear commitment in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown to improving outcomes for children and young people. These data sources and data gaps will guide subsequent research so that a robust evidence base can be established to inform the first Dún Laoghaire Rathdown CYPSC three-year Children and Young People's Plan’.
The name of the organisations involved in the event. Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Children and Young People’s Services Committee, Tusla Child and Family Agency , Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, An Garda Siocháná, Health Service Executive - Suicide Prevention Office and Primary Care, Southside Area Partnership, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Childcare Committee, National Educational Psychological Service, University College Dublin, Crosscare, Barnardos, Blackrock Education Centre, Carmona Special National School, St John of God’s, Tusla Educational Welfare Services, Scoil Mhuire National School, Enable Ireland, Smyls Aftercare, Aislinn Aftercare, Sonas Domestic Abuse, Southside Travellers Action Group, Balally Family Resource Centre, Hillview Family Resource Centre, Ballyogan Community Childcare Service, Dublin & Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board, Rathfarnham Youthreach, Sportsreach, Cottage Home Shankhill, Carmona Special Needs
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