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

I reiterate that very detailed work was done. We got great assistance in this regard. As Deputies can imagine, it is not the easiest thing in the world to disaggregate what was relevant to the Child and Family Agency from what was relevant to the other health budgets. That has been done following a rigorous process. A great deal of work was done by the team involved. I have to say they received significant co-operation from the HSE. A great deal of work was also done by my Department. The budgets were examined. The amounts that were used in the delivery of services for child protection were identified and separated out. As I said in my opening speech, there is no reduction in those amounts which have come across to the agency. That is the situation.

The reality is that there are huge demands on the agency. The same thing applies to the HSE, the Department of Education and Skills and all other bodies that are trying to deliver these services. We also have to look at reforming how we deliver many of these services. More co-operation between the voluntary and statutory sectors is needed. Clearly, I will keep a close eye on those demands. The board of the agency and the management team will do likewise. I would expect to hear back from them on how the budget is meeting those demands. We received some extra money for a range of services. Clearly, there are more demands in this area because there are more children coming into care. Expensive special care placements are necessary for a minority - 0.3% - of Irish children. There a level of demand for these expensive services. We need more foster placements, but they cost money.

It must be accepted that €609 million is a sizeable budget. It has to be managed by the management team and the board. Like everybody else, they are aware that substantial amounts of money cannot be found anywhere else in the current climate. We are subject to the comprehensive review of expenditure. Having said that, the budget shows an increase despite the current difficulties. As I have said, it was separated very carefully from the HSE costs. While there is no deficit, there are huge demands and costs, not least from a legal perspective. These issues have to be managed and dealt with. I do not doubt that the agency will come to me during the course of the year. We will keep a close eye on the budget and the demands on it.