Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

The collection of data has been a major issue with regard to child protection services generally. What we must achieve is consistency. Gordon Jeyes, the new director of child and family care in the HSE, is determined to ensure this because it is incredibly important. We have inconsistent data, for example, with regard to the reasons children are taken into care. We need to be clear about the thresholds that are being applied in different areas. I had a meeting last week with the regional directors of the HSE, who were supporting the director in this wish, and we are determined to work on this. I emphasised how important it was that we had a consistent approach throughout the country. That is one of the reasons we are introducing a new national guidance document, not just on its own but with an implementation plan.

An implementation plan is vital. We know the guidelines are robust in themselves - any review has found them to be so - but implementation is the key issue. We need consistency of implementation and consistency of data collection. As I have said a number of times in the House, our problem is not too much bureaucracy but the opposite: a lack of consistency in record-keeping, as we saw in the Roscommon report and other reports. We must move to a greater standardisation and consistency while keeping the interests of the child at the heart of everything.

With regard to a number of amendments we are dealing with today, when I am introducing the legislation to set up the child and family support agency later in the year, there will be an opportunity to consider the issues of children who come in contact with the criminal justice system, children who come into care and children who need aftercare. What we want is more of a continuum of care for children who access child protection services or the courts system. The needs of the child should be central in the response. We want a more cohesive approach to children who interact with our services at different points. We will have an opportunity to consider some of the legislative needs when we are establishing the new agency.

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