Mr. Gordon Jeyes:

This is an opportunity to ensure people are clear about the work that has been undertaken. Efforts will continue through our own quality assurance arrangements to ensure consistency. If we give guidance or instruction to staff and they follow it but it does not work out it is absolutely my responsibility. If we give guidance and instruction on how to organise and it is ignored, at the very least the staff are taking much more accountability onto their own shoulders. As we have implemented the service delivery framework there is evidence throughout the country that where advice is followed services improve, and this is reflected in the HIQA reports whereby issues of concern are addressed immediately and areas for improvement moved forward.

It has been a challenging experience for me to establish a brand new agency as a separate entity at a time of recession and austerity, and is an accomplishment. It was the right thing to do and we are moving in the right direction, but inevitably, because of the circumstances, there will be issues along the way when the level of risk we hold to improve services for children gets a little daylight shone upon it by the likes of the committee. I thank the committee.