Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and her officials this morning. In her statement the Minister alluded to the problem of alcohol addiction in the area of child welfare. Recently, we had the Government rapporteur before a committee. He cited the problem of alcohol addiction and the need for a ban on alcohol advertising. Where does the Minister stand in this regard? Does the Minister see it as something that she and her colleagues will be pursuing vigorously in the new year?

It is welcome that the Child and Family Agency is finally in legislation. The Minister alluded to the report that the task force gave her in 2012. Key recommendations of that report were not implemented, including, specifically, the recommendation that the child and adolescent mental health services should come within the new agency and the recommendation on public health nurses. Will the Minister update the committee on when she envisages those key services coming under the remit of the Child and Family Agency? Will the historical deficit be carried over? Has the Minister been able to secure additional funding to ensure that the agency is starting from a clean sheet?

There are some issues with the preschool quality agenda. I have asked on several occasions but failed to get an answer in respect of the €900,000 training fund. Originally, the Minister stated that Early Childhood Ireland was awarded a grant. Earlier this week, the Minister described it as an extension of its funding. I am still somewhat perturbed about how funding can be allocated without expressions of interest or without ensuring that we are getting value for money. I reiterate that I have no problem with Early Childhood Ireland but I believe that the allocation of State funding should be done in an open and transparent manner and through proper procurement processes.

The Minister has recruited additional staff to the inspectorate and that is to be welcomed. The Minister alluded previously to the fact that she would be moving away from public health nurses and moving into the area of specialists in early childhood education to ensure a more rounded approach from an inspection point of view. Most of the advertisements that went out cited a requirement to be a public health nurse. Perhaps the Minister can update us on the position. When does the Minister envisage moving to specialists in early childhood education?

I asked a specific question on the mentoring programme. It was brought to my attention that the position seemed to be more advanced than the reply given to me. The Minister identified how she would implement the mentoring programme. She explained that it would be rolled out nationally and that there would be one supervisor for Ireland and then several regional supervisors. Where exactly is the process? Has the Minister moved away from that?

Another issue relates to the safeguarding of children. I am surprised that today, almost three years into the Minister's tenure, she did not mention the Children First legislation, an issue she had said was a key priority of hers. This is one of the most critical tranches of legislation and we are still awaiting it. Perhaps the Minister will update us today on when it will come before the committee and when we can expect to see it going through the Houses of the Oireachtas.

The Minister referred to detention schools for children. The Hogan judgment relates to people's entitlement to remission. What plans does the Department have in place to meet the judgment? Perhaps the Minister could update the committee on that.

The Minister alluded to the children's rights referendum, which we all worked on and supported. The referendum is over 12 months past. I gather there is a further challenge to the result in the judicial system. Does the Minister have any indication of when we will be in a position to bring forward the legislation to give effect to the referendum? I suspect the Minister will not answer the question, but it is disappointing that 12 months on from when the people cast their vote, the result has not materialised. The reason it has not happened is that at the time a mistake was made by the Government in publishing documentation that was clearly in breach of the McKenna judgment. The children of Ireland are paying the price for that today.