Last Updated: Tuesday, October 23, 2007, 07:12

Kilkenny conference on child protection

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

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

Hosted by the Children Acts Advisory Board (CAAB), the conference will also discuss the child and the Irish Constitution, children and the family courts, and supporting families of those in custody.

Speakers will include Dr Carol Coulter, from the Courts Service, and Sylda Langford, director general from the office of the Minister for Children.

CAAB, which was announced last July, advises Minister for Children Brendan Smith on policy issues relating to the delivery of services to at-risk children/young people. It replaced the Special Residential Services Board.