Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Under the Child Care Act 1991, as amended, the Child and Family Agency has a general duty to provide child care and family support services and may make such provision as it considers necessary or desirable under section 69. This is a perfect example of the type of body that would be considered a family support service.

In terms of child contact centres, the Minister stated that the pilots referred to, which were in the Dublin area, related to children in care and-or whose parents were separated. She stated, "The pilot served families in private and public law proceedings and operated in three locations in Dublin." I take it from this that some of the cases that the family centre dealt with following referrals from the Courts Service were the same kinds of case dealt with by the pilot schemes in Dublin. It appears that the evaluation of the pilots was favourable. Will the Minister confirm whether I am correct in saying that? In light of the positive evaluation and the fact that the Minister is looking to roll this out nationally, will she consider it in this context?

The court referrals part of the service will probably draw to a close before the end of the year because facilitating it will not be possible in the context of current funding. I understand that a request for funding has been made. Will the Minister consider it? Does she believe that the future of these child contact centres must involve a portion of court-referred cases as well as Tusla's directly referred cases? It is a core part.

I should emphasise that this is essentially a regional service. It does not just serve Cork city, but the whole of County Cork and beyond, because there are no other services of its kind in the region.

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