Interview with Sylda Langford: People, relationships and power struggles ‐ the view from the Director‐General of the Irish Office of the Minister for Children
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/17466660200700007 |
| Pages | 67-75 |
| Date | 01 June 2007 |
| Published date | 01 June 2007 |
| Author | Dwan Kaoukji,Michael Little |
| Subject Matter | Education,Health & social care,Sociology |
67
Journal of Children’s Services
Volume 2 Issue 1 June 2007
© Pavilion Journals (Brighton) Ltd
1Dartington Social
Research Unit, UK,
and Chapin Hall
Center for Children,
University of
Chicago, US
Preamble
Ireland has suddenly become a hub of activity around children’s services – at central and local government
levels, involving the primary statutory and voluntary agencies, and engaging some of the more
disadvantaged communities. Following a critical report when it appeared before the UN Committee on the
Rights of the Child over a decade ago, the Irish Government set up the National Children’s Office and
developed a National Children’s Strategy. Current developments in children’s services designed to address
ongoing weaknesses in provision are taking place against the backdrop of the increasing wealth of the
state and families and considerable organisational change in local services. The relatively new Office of the
Minister for Children (OMC) was established to consolidate these ideas and move them forwards.
This article offers the perspective of Sylda Langford, Director-General of the OMC. She outlines
relevant aspects of the broader context in Ireland before describing the origins and work of the OMC,
the accompanying opportunities and obstacles to progress. She also reflects on life as a civil servant in
a cross-cutting Government department, the possible forthcoming referendum in Ireland on the relative
rights of parents and children and the challenges presented by collaboration with philanthropy. What
follows is an edited transcript of Sylda Langford’s comments.
Introduction
Ireland is different from the country many readers
perceive it to be. At one level it is very rich with one of
the highest rates of GDP per capita in the world. At
another level it remains poor, and the journey from
relative deprivation to relative affluence has influenced
the development of social policy for children. In this
article I will start with a few words about the broad
historical context and the way in which social policy is
shaped in this country. I will then sketch out the origins
and purpose of the new Office for the Minister for
Interview with Sylda Langford:
People, relationships and power
struggles – the view from the
Director-General of the Irish
Office of the Minister for Children
Sylda Langford was interviewed at the Office of the Minister for
Children, Dublin, Ireland, on 3 April 2007 by Dwan Kaoukji1and
Michael Little1
This is the first in a series of articles based on interviews with policy-makers, philanthropists
and community activists about the reforms to children’s services in Ireland. The previous
series looked at developments in England and Wales, and subsequent series will examine
reform efforts in other countries.
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