Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

The task force that I established to advise on the necessary transition programme to set up a child and family support agency has undertaken a considerable body of work. I met the task force at its 18th meeting last month for an update on this work and I anticipate that the final report will be submitted in July. The report will be brought to the Government, laid before the Oireachtas and published. It will contain advice on a number of key issues that will inform the preparation of the necessary legislation to establish the new agency. In particular, this will include a vision for the agency, proposed governance arrangements and advice on the services that the task force considered appropriate for inclusion in the agency's remit.

The commitment to establish a new child and family support agency is at the heart of the Government's reform of child and family services. The establishment of a single agency, underpinned by legislation and incorporating key children and family services, will provide a focus for the major reforms that are under way. This reform programme contains a number of critical elements, those being, the need for a comprehensive change programme to improve the quality and consistency of child welfare and protection services; the introduction of legislation to place Children First on a statutory basis; and the establishment for the first time of a dedicated budget for children and family services, providing transparency and accountability for the use of resources to meet national priorities. Previously, the budget formed part of a larger budget and underwent a great deal of movement, particularly at the end of each year when demands were made by hospital budgets, for example. The reform programme will also involve the transition of existing HSE child protection and welfare and services into the new agency; the merger of the existing Family Support Agency, which has a budget of more than €26 million, into the new agency; and consideration of the potential for further rationalisation of services for children under the new agency.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

A comprehensive change programme is being implemented under the leadership of Mr. Gordon Jeyes, national director of child and family services. The change programme is designed to enhance the level and consistency of child welfare and protection services significantly. This change process will continue into the new agency, of which Mr. Jeyes will be the first chief executive.

Extensive work is under way in my Department, the HSE and through the task force that I set up last September to prepare for the agency's establishment. I am satisfied that we are making excellent progress in terms of the preparatory work required to meet the Government's ambitious timetable, which will see the agency assuming full statutory responsibility for services for children and families early in 2013.

See this speech in context