Strategic Plan 2019-2023
Treoir, the National Federation of Services for Unmarried Parents and their Children, was founded in 1976 and is a national representative organisation advocating for equal rights for unmarried parents and their children. Its primary role is to provide specialist information and advice to unmarried parents concerning legal, economic and social issues. Central to Treoir’s work is ensuring that policy decisions that impact the lives of unmarried families are influenced and informed by the experience of those directly affected. Established at a time when birth outside of marriage was not socially acceptable, Treoir has witnessed a dramatic transformation in Irish society in the intervening decades. Today, around 37 per cent of children are born to non-marital families in Ireland and the traditional definition of ‘the family’ has undergone significant change which in turn has been reflected in legislation enacted over this period. In spite of these important and positive changes, inequalities still exist and Treoir continues to deal with the serious challenges and problems created by these for unmarried parents and their children. Through its direct engagement with unmarried parents, Treoir has first-hand knowledge of the legal, economic and psychological ramifications of these inequalities which are particularly evident when it comes to the issues of adoption and guardianship and the right of every child to have information about both parents and where possible be cared for by both parents. With over forty years of accumulated experience and direct engagement with unmarried families, Treoir is uniquely well-placed to advocate on behalf of unmarried parents and their children in terms of both legislative reform and service provision. This Strategic Plan (the Plan) sets down the priorities for Treoir for the next five years so that it can effectively contribute to eliminating the remaining inequalities and adapt its services to support the changing needs and circumstances of unmarried parents and their children in Ireland.
Read Strategic plan 2019-2023 here
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Treoir