Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Children and Youth Affairs

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Committee Stage

5:30 pm

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The welfare of a child encompasses many aspects. I am satisfied the terms "development and welfare" encompass, in this regard, any functions transferring from the NEWB.

Educational welfare in its broadest sense is a function of teachers, schools, the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. If I accepted this amendment there is a risk it would explicitly suggest that educational welfare is solely the remit of the agency. This is not the case. The legislation and functions as set out in this Bill will not diminish the role previously carried out by the NEWB under the Education and Welfare Act 2000 in conjunction with schools. To be clear, the functions under that Act will transfer to the Child and Family Agency CFA. Section 8(1)(b) already satisfactorily captures the concept of educational attainment by children through the inclusion of the terms "development" and "welfare".

I do not propose to accept this amendment.

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