Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr Jeyes and Ms Byrne. Is Mr. Jeyes concerned over the delay in the presentation of the facilitating legislation to establish the child and family support agency? We had an expectation this would have been in place before the end of last year and it would have been operational since January. Tomorrow is 1 March and the first quarter is nearly complete. I expect we are all equally anxious to see the new agency in situ because only when the new structures are functioning will we be able to properly evaluate its effectiveness and efficiency. We look forward to that.

Representatives of the groups who appeared before the committee earlier and others, who are in continual contact with committee members, have raised the issue of child psychologists and the child and adolescent mental health services. They also raised the issue of public health nurses. As a rural Deputy I recognise that the role of the public health nurse is not specific or particular only to children and the family relationship with the child; it is much wider than would be a neat fit for the new agency. However, the view expressed - one that I share - was that it is essential that the child psychologists and the child and adolescent mental health services would form an integral part of the new agency structure. What is proposed is disaggregation from the existing HSE position to the new agency. Should these respective professionals be within the new agency's remit, which would seem to be their natural home? I also ask Mr. Jeyes to comment on the position of the public health nurses.

There are 106 of these across the State. Their position was again very well articulated here earlier this morning. I am familiar with the detail of their concerns. Perhaps Mr. Jeyes is no more privy to the legislation than we are but would he expect their ethos and culture to be confirmed within the new agency? Would he like to comment on the anticipated structure of the board of the new agency? The family resource centres currently have representation on the Family Support Agency board. Will that continue under the new circumstances? What is the position regarding the local area pathway groups? How soon does Mr. Jeyes expect to see the roll-out of these and progress in respect of their respective remits?

We are advised that between 2,500 to 3,000 cases of child sexual abuse are reported annually. Could Mr. Jeyes confirm the figure? I emphasise that these are reported cases because I do not believe it is indicative of the reality. Unfortunately, many cases are not reported. We hope that will change. Are the current system and support services fit for purpose? We tend to look historically at the situation. We have had report after report which is informing much of the change to which we are all a party and supportive of. Would Mr Jeyes give us his view as to the current services and support structures? Are they fit for purpose in respect of that quite significant number of cases presenting? One would hope that the full extent of it would present in time when people realise how important it is to come forward.

Resourcing is key. I thought it very pertinent for one of our earlier witnesses to make the point that all we hope to see achieved cannot be achieved on a revenue-neutral or cost-neutral basis. We have spoken here before about all that we wish to see regarding greater service provision with regard to social workers. With the advent of the new agency, surely we are going to have to match our intent with improved resourcing to realise the results we all wish to see achieved.