Dr. Niall Muldoon:

The essence of the work of the Ombudsman for Children is to work with people and make sure they work together. I would recommend to legislators those elements of support for a system that allows the board of management to report within the system and Department of Education and Skills systems in a different way. I called it a recalibration of autonomy. I am not quite sure what it looks like, but it could possibly involve a change of direction.

As Deputy Daly said, it has taken a long time to build up the current system. To redirect it in a way that creates a little bit more oversight is something legislators need to examine and the Department needs to discuss. I have not had any discussions with the Department but it is something that needs to come into play. It is important that we start thinking about how that happens.

I do not want to put out any direct suggestions at this stage, having not had any discussions with some of the parties directly around the issue, but things are moving in that direction. Once the system is in place, I will have oversight of it. While I may not necessarily be compelling a board of management directly, if somebody in the Department of Education and Skills has oversight on a board I would have interaction there.