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

From the beginning of our discussions in respect of the establishment of the new agency, I made it clear that I consider the provision of family support to be an absolutely critical part of the new agency's work. Equally, it is clear that child protection is a priority. In order to ensure that child protection systems operate effectively, the efforts of the family resource centres and others who work in providing support to families and children throughout the country will continue to be required. Expertise in this area will certainly be reflected in the composition of the new board. Gordon Jeyes and I are absolutely committed to ensuring that the ethos relating to family support will continue to be a key aspect of the new agency's work. If one wants child protection to operate effectively, then the necessary family support services must be in place. I will ensure that the board of the new agency will have available to it the necessary expertise relating to family support.

We have expertise in family support services that will continue to influence, but at ministerial and management level there is a clear understanding that the ethos of resource centres and family support services will be reflected in the management structure of the new agency and at board level. It will extend to having managers with responsibility for family support services throughout the country.

See this speech in context