INTRODUCTION
Conclusions
This State of the Nation’s Children report presents an update on the well-being of children in Ireland since 2006 and is based on the National Set of Child Well-Being Indicators. Some limitations set out in the 2006 report have been addressed and progress has been made on, for example, reporting on the indicators drawn from the HBSC Survey to provide a better understanding of the middle childhood period. Similarly, it has been possible to present data here on one previously unavailable indicator, i.e. pets and animals. A small number of other indicators (nutritional outcomes; quality of early childhood care and education; and values and respect) are being developed for the next State of the Nation’s Children report.
A number of important developments on improving data on children’s lives have taken place over the last few years, including the National Longitudinal Study of Children, Growing Up in Ireland; the research and information database, www.childrensdatabase.ie; HealthStat and HealthAtlas. It is accepted, however, that a more strategic approach to the development of good information on children’s lives is necessary. A commitment to developing a National Data Strategy on Children’s Lives was given in Towards 2016 and this is now underway, being led by the OMCYA.