Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The content of the Minister's reply has not changed very much since the previous occasion on which we addressed this issue. She is quite correct in stating that I remain fully supportive of the new agency. I look forward to it commencing operations. However, as she indicated in the previous reply she gave last July, almost eight months ago, the purpose of the task force's report was to inform the preparation of legislation in respect of all the areas to which she referred. These include bringing together the roles played by three separate agencies, namely, the HSE, the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board, under a single entity, which is a huge undertaking.

We are halfway through February and the Minister indicated that the Bill will be forthcoming during the current term. Does this mean it will be published prior to Easter? It is extremely important that we should have sight of the legislation. Many of the stakeholders involved are continually inquiring with Deputies as to the exact position and there is huge concern among them as to the future of the various component parts that are going to be brought together under one agency. Would it be possible for the Minister to publish the heads of the child and family support agency Bill? She indicated that the Cabinet has agreed the heads and that the preparation and publication of the legislation is to be prioritised. Will she publish the heads of the Bill? The previous Government committed to doing so during the years when Bertie Ahern was Taoiseach. Publishing the heads would be of assistance.

Will the Minister address the position with regard to the board of the new agency, particularly in light of the continuing concerns of the 106 family resource centres, FRCs, throughout the country and the Family Resource Centre National Forum's current representation in the context of the Family Support Agency? Is she in a position to provide an assurance that the entities to which I refer will continue to be represented on the board of the child and family support agency when it is established?

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