Children First Interdepartmental Implementation Group (CFIDIG)

A significant provision in the Children First Act 2015 (Sections 20-26) is the establishment of the CFIDIG. Membership of the CFIDIG includes all government departments, Tusla, the HSE and An Garda Síochána. This reflects the importance that is being attached by all departments, sectors, agencies and services in fully complying with the ethos of Children First, and their specific statutory and non-statutory responsibilities.

The CFIDIG will be required to keep under review the implementation across the Public Sector of the Children First legislation and the Guidance, and to report on an annual basis to the Minister. The Children First Act requires every department to prepare a Sectoral Implementation Plan as soon as may be after commencement of Section 27 of the Act.

While departments and agencies are responsible for child protection issues arising in their own sphere of responsibility, the CFIDIG provides a forum at which child safeguarding issues with a cross-departmental focus can be raised as required.

The Annual Reports of the Group can be found below: