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

I welcome the Minister and her officials. I wish to discuss a number of issues, beginning with the child and family support agency and the now realistic timeframe for its establishment. I appreciate the point Deputy Troy made about the two opportunities we have had this week to engage with the Minister, but sometimes it can also be a benefit. In response to my questions on Tuesday the Minister indicated she expected the legislation would be presented before the House during the Dáil session. I indicated I attended the presentation of an earlier service plan of the HSE in March. Since Tuesday I have made further inquiries and I must put this matter to the Minister again. I have received repeat indications that those who currently have responsibility, and let us not forget that child and family issues continue under the aegis of the HSE, are not only working to but also under the understanding that they will continue to have this responsibility to the end of the current calendar year. This is the information I have received. It was indicated by the regional manager, and several Deputies from the Dublin north-east region were in attendance, that the clear understanding is the new child and family support agency, as we then referred to it, would be up and running with its specific remit by January 2014. Will the Minister comment on this?

With regard to the Minister's substantial reply to the questions on this area, I note a number of other colleagues have also posed questions and all five of us referred to a body we heretofore understood was on its way and would be named the "child and family support agency". Deputy Troy asked on Tuesday what happened to "support" and when did it go off the radar.

In the Minister's response, she indicated that the Government had recently approved that the name of the new agency would be the "child and family agency". "Support" is a very important word and merits address. This is the ideal opportunity to do so. What is the explanation for the word "support" being dropped from the title of the new agency? Each of the members present has been working on the basis that it was to be included. The word indicates a particular message as to the agency's remit, which is even more important from our perspective.

The Minister mentioned the establishment day and made a range of references. She mentioned the services that would come into train as of establishment day. Psychologists working in the community setting in respect of children and families are one of the five bulletpointed elements from establishment day. We discussed this matter briefly in our exchange on Tuesday. I am not on either side of this argument. I am challenged by what appear to be soundly based concerns from the perspective of those who are working within their peer profession regarding whatever disconnect might happen. I appreciate that it will be a difficult situation to overcome, but will the Minister elaborate in this regard?

What services does the Minister expect will transfer? She stated that further consideration would be given to the subsequent transfer of additional services to the new agency at the initial set-up phase. It is important that we have a sense of the phased introduction of the child and family support agency, as I choose to continue calling it.

Regarding appointments to the board, and not including the signalled appointment of Ms Norah Gibbons, which I have already welcomed, when does the Minister intend to progress the advertisement and invitation of expressions of interest for the other positions on the board?

It is difficult to tease out all of these issues in so short a time. Will the Chairman allow me to revert on the other points after other members have concluded?