Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a similar question to the one Deputy Robert Troy asked earlier on the establishment of the child and family support agency. I did not get to make a number of points in reply on the back-drop to the establishment of the agency and the other issues we need to pursue as we establish it. One I have mentioned is the consistency of the child protection services in that the assessments and responses families receive will be similar throughout the country. Another back-drop includes the legislation to place Children First on a statutory basis, the provision of a dedicated budget for the child and family support agency and the transition of the child protection and welfare services to the new agency. The Family Support Agency will merge with the new agency and its budget of €26 million will form part of the budget of the child and family support agency.

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