THE MINISTER FOR CHILDREN FRANCES FITZGERALD AND THE CEO OF BARNARDO’S FERGUS FINLAY WILL BE AMONG THE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AT A CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT THE IT SLIGO LATER THIS WEEK.

UP TO 100 PRACTITONERS , POLICY MAKERS , ACADEMICS AND STUDENTS WILL ATTEND THE “OUR CHILDREN- OUR FUTURE”CONFERENCE IN SLIGO THIS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

THE CONFERENCE IS ORGANISED BY PLE – A NETWORK OF 17 THIRD LEVEL COLLEGES THAT PROVIDE DEGREE COURSES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION.

AMONG THE ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED ARE THE IMPACT OF MEDIA VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN, THE EARLY SEXUALISATION OF CHILDREN AND THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF CHILDHOOD ADVERSITY.

THE IRISH SOCIAL SCIENCE PLATFORM, THE BORDER MIDLANDS REGION OF COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEES, THE HSE AND IT SLIGO ARE ALL INVOLVED IN HOSTING THE FORUM.