Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

I want to inform the House that the existing pilot projects that were running in Cork and Donegal will continue in 2012. Clearly, whatever model emerges will need to address the challenges of the varying demographic demands in rural and urban settings. For example, the number of referrals to the Cork pilot project was 29, while the Donegal pilot only received eight referrals.

Building on the Cork and Donegal projects, and the lessons which we must learn from them, the HSE will be designing comprehensive national arrangements which can be implemented by the new child and family support agency. I would expect that around September or October we will have that national plan for the model that needs to be used. I do not believe it will be the same model in all parts of the country as needs vary. We must ensure we put in place a model which ensures access to social work intervention. The format within which that will be provided may and should vary depending on the demands of different areas.

See this speech in context