Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The National Children's Office co-ordinates aspects of various Departments and that is probably as good as one can make it. I am not saying that cannot be improved upon because everything can always be improved through more input. Neither I nor the Minister think the idea of a separate Department for children is worthwhile because one cannot take children out of the education or health sectors. Therefore, if there was a separate Department for children, one would still be dealing with health and education aspects through the relevant Departments. I certainly agree with making the role more powerful but the current Minister has such a role, as did the previous one. It is important to build the National Children's Office which can co-ordinate work across Departments. To do otherwise, through the establishment of a Department of children, would not be meaningful.

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