Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Could the Minister give us an update on the establishment of the child and family support agency, including a timeframe? When does she expect to see the agency in situ? I know from cases presenting at my office - I am sure other Deputies have had the same experience - that the budgetary cutbacks will have negative effects, particularly on families, which will result as it sadly often does in friction, disruption and the break-up of families in many cases. Often, the result of this is young adolescent displacement, which can result in more homelessness and an increase in the number of young people seeking State care services. If the Minister does not have the exact figures, could she give us an indication of the number of children who were placed in care because their families were experiencing financial difficulties? We have talked about this before. It is a particular situation as against other issues that contribute to children needing State care. I am asking about children seeking State care as a direct consequence of their families' financial difficulties. That is, more and more, the reality we are in, and such children will present in ever-increasing numbers in the future.

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