Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

I want to stress that at this point, a decision has not been taken. The Ombudsman for Children will return to me with her proposals after which discussions will take place with the Department for Education and Skills. I know that Department will have its own plans on how it sees the service developing. I must have those discussions with the Department as well.

The Deputy made a relevant point; the Department of Children and Youth Affairs must be a cross-cutting Department as well. We must work with other Departments because not all of the issues that relate to children, for example, special needs, are under the direct remit of my Department at the moment, but even if they did not come under its remit, it would be an area on which we should work together.

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