Govt announces five-year strategy for children

A consultation with young people has been announced to develop a five-year strategy for children from next year.

It will be carried out in all primary and secondary schools and youth reach centres next week.

The Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald has said the country has been "shamed" by what has been done in abuse and neglect, resulting in some childhoods "defined by torture and terror".

Ms Fitzgerald said the current givernment "will not simply receive reports, shake heads and do nothing, but will act in the interests of the country's 1.4 million children".