Child protection on conference agenda

Child protection will be one of the topics discussed at a major two-day conference opening today in Kilkenny.

Hosted by the Children Acts Advisory Board (CAAB), it will be addressed by a number of high profile speakers.

These include Dr Carol Coulter with the Courts Service and Director General from the Office of the Minister for Children Sylda Langford.

The conference will be opened by CAAB CEO Aidan Browne and topics up for discussion include The Child and the Irish Constitution, Children and the Family Courts and Supporting families of those in custody.

CAAB was announced last July.

It advises Minister for Children Brendan Smith on policy issues relating to the delivery of services to at-risk children/young people under the Child Care Act 1991 and Children Act 2001 and replaced the Special Residential Services Board (SRSB).

The Sharing the Task, Achieving Child Protection and Welfare through Inter-Agency Working conference will begin this morning in the Ormonde Hotel.