Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am glad the Minister shares my concerns but he is the Minister at the helm of that Department and can act on those concerns. There are 160 vacant posts across the Child and Family Agency, which is operating at 70% of its staffing levels. This is in its first year so there is no point clapping ourselves on the back that we have formed a new agency if that agency will not do the job it is tasked with doing. What is being done about the €25 million that has been spent on legal fees by the agency? Can one imagine the difference that €25 million would make in the provision of front-line services? In terms of the budget provision for the remainder of this year, will a Supplementary Estimate be brought forward to ensure that front-line services are not compromised? In terms of the 2015 budget, will the Minister be able to secure from his colleagues around the Cabinet table the additional resources that Mr. Jeyes, who is at the helm of this organisation, said he will need just to stand still next year?

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