Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy McConalogue. In July 2011, I launched the revised Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children. The guidance deals with the recognition, reporting and management of child safety concerns.

The revised guidance replaces the original version of Children First which was first published in 1999. The HSE, as I said in reply to the question from Deputy Ó Caoláin, has a network of personnel to provide training and information on the implementation of Children First. It is currently implementing a programme of information and training on the new guidance across the country. That includes the handbook which I am sure the Deputy has seen. The handbook will facilitate implementation of the Children First guidance and should provide for what I said is needed, namely, consistency across the country. The increase in the number of social workers should make a difference to that.

The Ryan report implementation plan recommended that Children First should be put on a statutory basis and the strengthening of the HSE's child protection services through the recruitment of an additional 270 social workers. The introduction of 260 of the social workers by the end of this year and the detailed implementation process under way within the HSE and across the Government will provide a firm basis for full compliance with Children First on a consistent basis, in addition to the other work which I have said is being carried out by the director of child and family services within the HSE. The audit which is currently being carried out should help.

The Government has also committed, as a priority, to the introduction of legislation to underpin Children First. I intend that the legislation will reflect a broad-based approach to compliance with obligations extending beyond reporting to one of safeguarding children at risk. The objective will be to ensure the greater protection of children by underpinning the existing guidance for reporting and responding to suspected child abuse with legislation.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

The Government is committed to a significant programme of reform of our child protection services. This is intended to achieve national consistency with services across the country delivered according to national standards which will be externally evaluated. This reform will lead to a new child and family support agency which will provide the dedicated focus on child protection which has been sometimes lacking within the HSE. The implementation of these reforms will allow for the best possible services to be delivered within the resources available.

See this speech in context