247. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress and current work programme of the child law reporting project. [38327/24]

The work of the Child Law Project (CLP) over the last number of years has been invaluable to my Department, in its provision of evidence regarding child care proceedings.

My Department renews the court reporting project periodically through a competitive procurement process. The most recent iteration of process concluded in late 2021, and the current project will conclude in late 2024, having operated for a period of 3 years.

The Child Law Project’s work programme is overseen by an independently chaired Research Advisory Group. In 2024 the Project has delivered, in accordance with its work plan, a volume of Court Reports relating to proceedings attended in the second half of 2023, and a Volume of a Court Reports relating to proceedings attended in the first half of 2024.

The Project is due to publish a final analytical report in early November. This analytical report is expected to highlight the key findings from the research and the reporting of the Project over the course of the current work programme.