Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

I indicated when I published the report of the Independent Child Death Review Group that I welcomed its findings and recommendations and that I fully accept the need for action in the areas identified.

As advised at a recent meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, following consultations with the Taoiseach, I am putting in place an implementation process for the Gibbons-Shannon recommendations. Many of the recommendations of the review group's report echo recommendations made in previous reports and actions are already under way to implement these as part of the reform programme under way in children and family services. Where recommendations give rise to a need for new actions my Department will incorporate these within the implementation process.

My Department is currently preparing a detailed project implementation plan for the reform of children's services. Linked to this, it is preparing a single database of various report recommendations over recent years to streamline reporting to me on these matters. Reporting on the Gibbons-Shannon recommendations will form part of his streamlined reporting mechanism. It is my intention to bring regular progress reports on my Department's reform programme to Government, the relevant Cabinet sub-committee, this House and relevant committees.

On the content of the recommendations, as stated, many of the actions and reforms identified by the review group are already under way as part of the Government's reform programme, the most radical reform of child welfare and protection services ever undertaken in the State. I believe the review group report will add further impetus and support to this comprehensive change programme.

As I have often stated, it is my contention that child and family services have for too long competed with other priorities within the health services. This was a critical factor in the decision by the Government to establish a dedicated child and family support agency. The agency, which will report to me as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs will on its establishment in early 2013 carry forward key elements of the change programme.

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