Child Law Project Explained

The Child Law Project, (known as the Child Care Law Reporting Project (CCLRP) until 2022)[1] is an Irish statutory body established to produce research and journalism to examine the "operation of the child care system in the courts with the aim of promoting transparency and accountability".[2] The body sent court reporters to relevant proceedings, including prosecutions of minors, in Irish courts from 2012 to 2024, compiling regular reports.[3] [4] The body failed to secure a tender in 2024.[5] [6] [7]

The project was established in 2012, under the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2007,[8] with seed provided by the One Foundation, Atlantic Philanthropies and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.[9]

Family law proceedings in the Republic of Ireland take place in camera,[10] the project follows such cases in the Family Courts.[11]

People

Board members include Dublin Rape Crisis Centre's Noeline Blackwell (chair), and former Chief Justice Frank Clarke,[12]

Carol Coulter, an Irish Times journalist and adjunct professor of law at University of Galway,[13] founded the project and is its executive director.[14]

Academic value

Reports from the project have been cited in academic journals such as the Journal of Social Work Education (Taylor & Francis),[15] Social Work & Social Sciences Review (Whiting & Birch),[16] Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies (TU Dublin),[17] Child Abuse Review (Wiley),[18] Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law (Taylor & Francis),[19] Child & Family Social Work (Wiley)[20] and Family Court Review (Wiley).[21]

In November 2024, Special Rapporteur-for Children, Caoilfhionn Gallagher, said that a report from the project "shines a light" on the care system in need of reform.[22]

Closure

In October 2024, District Court President Paul Kellyexpressed concern at the closure of the project, which had not sent reporters to proceedings since the middle of the year. Opposition politicians, Paul Murphy,[23] Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik,[24] and Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín called for funding to be reinstated from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 11 March 2019 . Child care law experts call for dedicated family court following overcrowding evidence . Irish Legal News.
  2. Web site: MacNamee . Garreth . February 14, 2022 . Child Law Project has serious concern about lack of residential places for children with complex needs . TheJournal.ie.
  3. Web site: Murphy . Ann . July 8, 2024 . Judge warns of 'tsunami' of cases due to shortage of care placements for vulnerable children . Irish Examiner.
  4. Web site: 5 November 2024 . Clare Children Reportedly Being "Warehoused" By The State Due To Unsuitable Child Protection Strategy . Clare FM.
  5. Web site: Murphy . Ann . July 9, 2024 . Government commits to fund reporting on court cases involving children in State care . Irish Examiner.
  6. 1845053787972518038 . MCompassMedia . O'Gorman stops funding for 10 year old Project ... . 12 Oct 2024 .
  7. News: Power . Jack . 12 October 2024 . Judge expresses 'grave disappointment' after care watchdog shelved . The Irish Times.
  8. Web site: January 9, 2013 . About the Project . Child Law Project.
  9. Web site: 20 June 2023 . Child Law Project celebrates 10th anniversary . Irish Legal News.
  10. Web site: English . Eoin . July 8, 2024 . Operation of in-camera rule in family law system to be examined . Irish Examiner.
  11. Web site: 2024 . Application renewed and further adjourned to lift in camera rule to refer CFA Signs of Safety policy to Ombudsman for Children - 2024vol1#62 . ChildLawProject.ie.
  12. Web site: 20 June 2023 . Child Law Project celebrates 10th anniversary . IrishLegal.com.
  13. Dr Carol Coulter Appointed as Adjunct Professor in University of Galway's School of Law . February 2016 . . UniversityOfGalway.ie.
  14. Web site: 4 November 2024 . Child Law Project report examines three years of child protection cases . Irish Legal News.
  15. Mooney . Joseph . McGregor . Caroline . Fall 2022 . The Importance of Teaching Social Work as a Sociolegal Practice: An Irish Perspective . . 58 . 747–758 . 10.1080/10437797.2021.1963893 . 1043-7797 . 4. free .
  16. Foreman . Maeve . Ní Raghallaigh . Muireann . 2019 . Transitioning out of the asylum system in Ireland: Challenges and opportunities. . Social Work & Social Sciences Review . 21 . 34–51 . 10.1921/swssr.v21i1.1365 . 0953-5225 . . 1.
  17. O'Connor Funcheon . Susan . Brady . Eavan . 2022 . An exploration of professional and practice-based perspectives on supporting birth parents towards reunifification with their children. . Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies . 22 . 1 . 1–30 . 1393-7022 . .
  18. Mooney . Joseph . 2021 . How Adults Tell: A Study of Adults' Experiences of Disclosure to Child Protection Social Work Services . . 30 . 3 (May/June 2021) . 193–209 . 10.1002/car.2677 . 0952-9136 . .
  19. O'Sullivan . Ella . Jun 2023 . The marginalisation of victims of domestic abuse under the Irish Domestic Violence Act 2018. . Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law . 45 . 2 . 119–142 . 10.1080/09649069.2023.2206221 . 0964-9069. free .
  20. McGregor . Caroline . Devaney . Carmel . May 2020 . Protective support and supportive protection for families "in the middle": Learning from the Irish context . Child & Family Social Work . 25 . 2 . 277–285 . 10.1111/cfs.12683 . 1356-7500 . . 10379/15542. free .
  21. Healy . Connie . July 2021 . Reform within the Family Courts: Lessons from Baltimore . Family Court Review . 59 . 3 . 457 . 10.1111/fcre.12539 . 1531-2445 . .
  22. Web site: Vulnerable children 'falling through the cracks' - report. Ailbhe. Conneely. 4 November 2024. RTÉ News.
  23. Murphy . Paul . 15 October 2024 . Child Protection: Statements – Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil) – Tuesday, 15 Oct 2024 . Paul Murphy (politician) . Oireachtas.ie.
  24. Bacik . Ivana . 10 July 2024 . Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation – Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil) – Wednesday, 10 Jul 2024 . Ivana Bacik . Oireachtas.ie.
  25. Web site: 5 November 2024 . "Damning Report from Child Law Project Should Prompt Political Action" - Tóibín . Aontú.

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