James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank members. I will try to go through as many of the questions as possible myself and will refer to the Secretary General where necessary. Deputy Troy asked me the reason I would not include my priorities into my opening statement. First, I would like to give further consideration to the areas I would like to prioritise. Second, the priorities that spring to mind immediately obviously are to continue to implement the programme for Government commitments, which I will do, as well as to focus on the Brighter Future Better Outcomes framework. Members have mentioned outcomes and as they are aware from my previous role, I am a great believer in measuring outcomes and developing measurement thereof, rather than simply looking at output. In many parts of the public service, we have run into trouble because of outputs and of ticking boxes, rather than looking at what actually was being achieved from the perspective of the client. This could not be more important anywhere than in the care of children.

Deputy Troy mentioned rumours of public health elements coming into this brief and I am aware there have been some reports that this would be perceived as a dilution or a downgrading. On the contrary, I would perceive such a move as strengthening the children portfolio. The Department has established itself and, as Senator van Turnhout has pointed out, it has a phenomenal job to do. It reaches into every other Department and many elements of public health specifically affect children. It is known that every euro one spends on children is where one will get the best return, whether it be in health or other aspects of their care such as education, etc.

This is where one will get the best return, be it in health or other aspects of their care such as education. The two Secretaries General will meet and discuss what the most appropriate parts to bring to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs are because whatever happens, it has to be done with one key objective in mind, which is achieving better outcomes for children.

Deputy Troy expressed concern that Tusla will not meet its budget this year. Tusla has a budget of €602 million, which includes €6.7 million in additional funding - €12 million in a full year - to assist in the reform of child protection services. Unlike many other public bodies, Tusla was not subject to an expenditure reduction requirement other than in respect of the public pay savings under the Haddington Road agreement. There were areas of expenditure which transferred to Tusla which are subject to financial pressure. For example, there is spending of about €34 million on legal costs, which is a huge amount of money. I reiterate the point I made yesterday and many times previously that we must ensure the moneys we have to go the people we are trying to serve - in this case, children - and not on legal fees. This sum is far too high and is acknowledged by Gordon Jeyes as being so. It is implementing a range of reforms to get value in this area. The agency's cash drawdown from my Department is currently well within the agreed levels but it is projecting an expenditure level that is about €23 million ahead of allocation, or just under 4%. The Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are working very closely with the chief executive and head of finance in the agency on its financial outturn in its first year of operation. As I say, a huge part of that is made up of legal fees.