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

I thank all Deputies for their contributions and for their support for the child and family agency. There were some very thoughtful and thought-provoking contributions on the development of the new agency. I listened with interest to the valuable input of Deputies on all sides. The various issues raised will be considered further by my Department as the Bill makes its way through the Houses. I was particularly interested in the representations Deputies indicated had been made to them by a number of outside agencies. I will examine the points those agencies have made.

I wish to reassure the House that early intervention will very much be part of the work of the new agency. I reaffirm my commitment in this regard. The Bill makes explicit provision for the inclusion of a range of services - beyond just those relating to child protection - which are considered critical in delivering a sustainable and comprehensive continuum of supports aimed at prevention, early intervention and assisting families. The supports to which I refer include family resource centres, education and welfare services and psychology services. I wish to reassure the many Deputies who raised the issue of resources that we are recruiting social workers.

Many speakers referred to the issue of accountability to the House. Section 47 imposes an unambiguous statutory obligation on the agency to comply with a direction of the Minister. In the context of the specific questions regarding accountability to the Oireachtas, I will continue to answer parliamentary questions in respect of the agency. This is clearly laid out in the accountability and governance sections relating to the agency.

I thank all Deputies for the care they have taken in respect of this debate. I also thank them for the quality of their contributions and their clear passion for and interest in this matter in the context of providing the very best services for children. I welcome their support for the reorganisation of those services, which, as so many reports have shown, have been fragmented up to now. The child and family agency is an essential response to dealing with the issues that have been highlighted over the years in many reports.

This Bill has been introduced in the context of a wide-ranging reform process regarding children services and should be recognised, as many Deputies have recognised it, as a key component in the change process. I am committed to addressing significant efficiencies that have been identified in the State's care and protection of vulnerable children and all workable initiatives to deliver this reform effectively will be considered by the agency and by myself with an open mind. I thank everybody for their contributions. I look forward to dealing with the remaining Stages and to enacting this legislation as soon as possible.

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