Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)

I thank the Deputy. My Department renews the court reporting project periodically through a competitive tender process. The current iteration of the court reporting project began in November 2021 and will expire on 31 October 2024, over which period funding totalling €600,000 will have been provided to the Child Law Project. My Department is currently prioritising the development of a new procurement process and intends that a new phase of court reporting will commence in January of next year. The current iteration of the project has been delivered by the Child Law Project, which was successful in its tender application in 2021. In accordance with the funding agreement and work plan under this iteration of the project, the CLP ceased attending proceedings in June of this year and published a final volume of court reports in relation to this period on 8 July. The final analytical report for this phase is due for publication on 4 November.

I have met the Child Law Project a number of times over the lifetime of this Government. Its work is hugely valuable. Its work is instructive to my Department, to Tusla and a range of Departments and State agencies. I have been involved with its work and project staff a number of times. I launched some of the project's reports and met with its staff to hear first hand the types of cases it is experiencing. There is a delay and I recognise that. I have told my departmental officials to prioritise the new tendering process. I am confident reporting will be back in January of next year.

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