This is the first State of the Nation's Children report, which fulfils a commitment in the National Children's Strategy to the publication of a regularly updated statement of key indicators of children's well-being. The report provides an invaluable source of information for anyone involved in providing services or support to children in Ireland. It brings together, for the first time, information from administrative, survey and census data. Arranged around four broad categories, the report details the status of children in 2006 in terms of socio-demographics; relationships with parents and peers; outcomes for children in education, health, and social, emotional and behavioural contexts; and formal and informal supports.