Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Flaherty for her presentation. The main reason for establishing a new agency is to focus on child protection and family support. When this agency is established it will have more than 4,000 employees and a budget of €550 million. When a child comes to the attention of a social worker, an educational welfare officer or a Garda diversion officer, he or she will come under a single tier of services. We previously believed that the social worker had all the answers but child protection and welfare, mental health intervention, primary care, public health, youth justice and domestic violence support will come under the same umbrella. The Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, is guiding us in the right direction.