2833. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to "Improve support for kinship care to enhance outcomes for kinship families". [59942/26]

The Programme for Government contains a commitment with regard to kinship carers. Accordingly, the Department is in the process of developing a national policy on the rights of children living in informal kinship care. Considerable work has taken place to date, with the aim of finalising the policy by in 2026.

To date, as part of the development of the national policy the Department:

• is finalising the scoping exercise on informal kinship care in Ireland. This exercise covers a review of:

• the existing relevant legislation

• the current reality for families in informal kinship care arrangements including their current access to supports

• national and international literature and international perspectives and examples of best practice.

• is ensuring that the voice of the child is present from the earliest possible stage. Consultations carried out with children and young people with experience of informal kinship care arrangements, concluded in September 2025. This approach is aligned with Article 12 of the UNCRC and the requirement that the child's views must be considered and taken into account, in all matters affecting him or her.

• has completed a consultation, via survey, with parents of children with experience of informal kinship care.

• has completed research to better understand the experiences of kinship carers.

This is a very sensitive and complex issue, and the Department is working closely with stakeholders such as Kinship Care Ireland.

The Department is now preparing draft policy recommendations. These are informed by the scoping exercise, findings from the consultations and research activities and are being developed in consultation with the Steering and Advisory Groups for the development of the policy. I expect the policy to be finalised in 2026 and this will pave the way for associated implementation plans. This timeline is dependent on the engagement and agreement of other Departments.