Mr. Toby Wolfe:

Given the large number of questions members asked, I will try to pick up three or four themes that cut across a number of the contributions. On the stubbornly high rate of child poverty and the need to address the issue, members are correct that this is a major problem. I will refer to several elements of the solution, one of which is, without doubt, investment in services. Deputy Ó Caoláin is correct to point out that austerity has been a significant problem in terms of levels of poverty as well as levels of investment in services. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs will only have a positive impact if investment in services matches aspirations.

More specifically, however, the universality of services is critical. A question was asked about the Danish model and the reason child poverty rates are low in Denmark. Services in Denmark are universal, encompass a wide range of types of services and early care and education services are comprehensive, universal and affordable. The provision of high levels of service means that when labour market activation policies that support parents to leave social welfare and enter employment supports are in place to make these labour market activation policies realistic. This is a critical part of the Danish model.

Linked to the stubbornly high levels of child poverty is a focus on outcomes, which is very important. In that regard, I highlight the importance of quality in service provision. All the research evidence in the area of early care and education services indicates that these services only benefit children when they are of high quality. If one was to carry out outcome assessments of child care services, one would find time and again that child care services with low quality do not yield positive outcomes for children. The quality of services is, therefore, critical.

A couple of questions were asked about the three new area based sites that are being chosen. While I am not involved in the process of selection and do not know what is being done in that regard, I will express a couple of thoughts on the process and what could be sought. The sites selected must be located in areas with very high levels of disadvantage in order that we can impact on those who are most in need. The process must also be transparent and, critically, in selecting the sites I hope the Government will consider the potential for mainstreaming. It must choose projects that offer real potential for mainstreaming to ensure they do not become just another group of pilots sitting on a shelf. These factors will be critical in the selection process.

Questions were asked about the child and family support agency. Senator van Turnhout's contention that we are very good on early acknowledgement but not good on early intervention is correct. While the child and family support agency offers real potential for helping, it also carries risks. The particular risk I propose to highlight is that lip service will be paid to prevention and early intervention and these priorities will not be the main focus of the new organisation, which is likely to be on high end and intensive child protection measures. While such measures are critically important, the prevention and early intervention role also matters. There are risks that in a climate of austerity, budget cuts will be first applied to preventative services. There are also risks around the image of the agency. It is very important that it is viewed as an organisation for all children and families, not only disadvantaged or problem families because if this were to be the case, it would be counter-productive.

The culture and ethos of the new organisation also matters. The preventative approach must be deeply embedded in order that services such as the family resource centres and public health nurses, if they come within the remit of the agency at a later date, feel welcome and are able to do preventative work effectively.

The final strand of questions I propose to address relates to the national early years strategy. Questions were asked about the potential of the strategy and the process involved.

Start Strong, along with Barnardos and a number of other organisations, is on the expert advisory group on the strategy. We have made a submission to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The strategy is still being developed. It is too early to say whether it will be good but I very much hope it will. Some questions were raised about the process at an early stage. I am glad the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has adopted a very personal approach to trying to ensure the process of developing the strategy is strong. I am looking forward to helping to work on it over the next couple of months. It is important that we get it right. There is a critical opportunity to engage in the sort of joined-up policy-making we need to address child poverty and achieve positive outcomes fro all children.