Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

The Government has completed and published the results of a detailed comprehensive review of expenditure. This review examined all areas of Government expenditure in order to meet the Government's overall fiscal consolidation objectives and realign spending with the priorities set out in the programme for Government. Central to the review process has been the need to consider new ways of achieving Government objectives in the context of public sector reform.

My Department participated fully in this review process, which involved detailed analysis of all areas of relevant expenditure, identification of additional costs associated with programme for Government commitments and other spending pressures and the formulation of options for savings. Detailed interactions took place with relevant agencies, including the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

My Department's input to the comprehensive review of expenditure process was fully aligned with the Government's reform objectives for children's services and encompassed the child protection and welfare services currently operated by the HSE which are going to transfer to the new agency. In addition, the Government's public service reform announcements on 17 November signalled my decision to merge the Family Support Agency into the child and family support agency following the latter's establishment. This is consistent with the approach taken by my Department in the process of considering more effective ways to use resources to achieve the Government's key objective to improve services for children and families.

Last week, I announced a dedicated new budget subhead which was established for the first time in the HSEVote in preparation for the planned establishment of the child and family support agency. Provision of €568 million has been made for 2012. Traditionally the budget for children has been underestimated. It is important that we do due diligence to ensure the money earmarked for child and family support services are covered by the new subhead. A process is currently underway in conjunction with the HSE to review and refine the detailed components of this subhead.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

The provision for the first time of a dedicated budget for children and families within the HSE Vote will pave the way for the establishment of the new Agency in 2013. This dedicated budget will be managed by the national director of children and family services and his staff in support of the process of operational improvement in child protection and welfare services which he is leading. Central to this reform is the delivery of transparent and accountable management and budgeting.

The Government's reform of child welfare and protection services is also being assisted by the task force on the child and family support agency which I established in September. The task force, which has considerable expertise, met for the eighth time earlier this week and also has a number of sub-groups undertaking particular aspects of its work. The task force is chaired by Ms Maureen Lynott and it also includes the national director of children and family services, Mr. Gordon Jeyes, and the Secretary General of my Department.

I am satisfied that the recent budgetary decisions, while taking place in a context of huge pressure on the public finances, have been fully informed by the Government's commitment to the establishment of the child and family support agency. The establishment of the new agency is part of a wider change agenda aimed at strengthening the organisational capacity, business processes and systems necessary to deliver safe and reliable child protection services. This change agenda is necessary in order utilise resources to their fullest to promote better outcomes for children and achieve Government objectives for the improvement of the child protection system. I believe, in time, this will constitute an important and demonstrable example for the public of the benefits of public service reform.

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