Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I did not have the opportunity to view the programme last night but I understand its contents. The newly appointed Minister for State with responsibility for children and youth affairs, Deputy Barry Andrews, will take this matter up with the HSE tomorrow to see where the situation is from his point of view. It is an issue to which he attaches a high priority.

A great deal of progress has been made in this area. As I understand it, where a report of a child at risk is made, it is assessed by the general pool of social workers within the health service and a person is allocated to the case if the risk is such that that is what is deemed to be required. A spectrum must be addressed. Increased resources are going into this area. The HSE is in the process of seeking to employ a further 50 staff in this area. Staff turnover has been high but the right way to proceed is through the Office of the Minister for Children to pull together all the issues and policy areas in the one office. This is regarded by many as succeeding and progressing well. In the past, the problem was services were provided in isolation from families and family supports. The emphasis has been placed not only on the interaction between the social worker and the child but also on working with extended family members to ensure children at risk are not dealt with in isolation from the environment in which they were reared. That community-based activity is regarded as a more progressive and effective way of dealing with this issue than was the case in the past. I understand the Ombudsman for Children was interviewed for the programme but I do not know whether that formed part of it. My understanding is that this was a reference to a progression being made in this area. Not all problems are solved. Progress is being made and the Minister of State is taking this matter up with the HSE as his first priority on taking office.

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