Abstract
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) report Consultations with Children and Young People living in Direct Provision captures the views of children on their lived experiences in Direct Provision. The report was compiled by researchers at the University College Cork School of Law Child Law Clinic. The consultation is one of a series of reports that the Child Law Clinic has undertaken for the DCYA as part of their strategy to document their work, listening to the views of young people and promoting their participation in decision-making about them, under the National Strategy on the Participation of Children and Young People in Decision-making.
Figures from September 2015 show 4,467 residents in the Direct Provision system in Ireland. Over 1,000 residents are children under 12 years, with a further 166 aged between 13 and 17 years. The researchers used qualitative mixed methods to gather the view s of the young people. The consultations, with 110 participants from 11 Direct Provision Centres, were designed to allow children and young people to suggest changes they would like to see, as well as giving them the opportunity to give their views on what they like, and do not like, about their lives in Direct Provision. The launch of the report on 14 July 2017 was covered extensively in the Irish media.
Source: UCC Child Law Clinic
Abstract
This report sets out the findings from a consultation with children and young people living in Direct Provision that was carried out by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in compliance with Ireland’s commitments to include children’s views in decisions that affect them, as set out in the new National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making (2015).
This report aimed to document and analyse the process and findings of the consultations with children and young people living in Direct Provision. The report comprises a short introduction outlining the background to the project and the role of DCYA and the RIA; a context for the consultation in terms of the literature on the Direct Provision system and on children and young people’s participation in decision-making; an account of the rationale for the involvement of children and young people, including an analysis of the methodologies used in recruitment and in the consultations; findings from the consultations, both individually and from the entire process; and a summary and key messages for policy makers. In collaboration with a group of participants, a child and youth friendly version of the report will be developed to be made available in a range of formats that are accessible to a wide audience.
Source: UCC Child Law Clinic
