Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

Amendment No. 57 is in my name and I wish to address the issues involved. It seeks to insert "or to an accredited committee or body on behalf of the executive". The Bill makes provision for accredited agencies under Part 13. If accredited agencies carry out assessments, these still have to go through the HSE process and subsequently go to the Adoption Board, which makes the final decision. I am suggesting that this is an unnecessary number of steps. I do not see what the role of the HSE is in this regard. We already know that HSE social workers are under enormous pressure. The Minister has said that more will be appointed this year, but I believe that will be for other purposes within the HSE.

I take the Minister for State's point about not unnecessarily extending the debate, but we know that there is a very long waiting time in many parts of the country before people are assessed. It seems that this is adding an extra layer of bureaucracy for no good reason. Obviously, we want to ensure that the process is thorough, but I agree with Deputy Shatter that the people who ultimately have responsibility in that regard are the social workers, the professionals. This responsibility is within the caveat that it goes to the accredited body or the HSE and then it goes before the Adoption Board. Essentially, I do not believe we need this extra layer in the case of accredited agencies who may carry out assessments, as I understand it, under the Bill. That is the purpose of my amendment.

I support Deputy Shatter's points about these bodies being set up by the HSE which appear to be very vaguely defined and constructed. Again, I wonder what is their purpose. I take his point that if they exist at all, they should at least be manned by people who have the appropriate expertise.

All these amendments are designed to improve the process as regards the assessment of families without in any way endangering the process in terms of its thoroughness, rigour and the task of ensuring we comply with the process as we should.

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