Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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6. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her observations on the establishment of the Child and Family Agency, now over one month in being; if the transition has been smooth; if there are particular concerns or issues requiring special address; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6643/14]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Following the launch of the new Child and Family Agency, have any issues arisen that may give rise to concern? Would the Minister like to report on the success of the launch a month after the new entity's establishment?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputies Ó Caoláin, Troy and other Deputies for their support on the establishment of the new Child and Family Agency. I thank Deputy Ó Caoláin for affording us an opportunity today to reflect on the establishment of the agency on 1 January, as planned. I pay tribute to those involved in the very detailed work done leading up to the establishment. This is sometimes forgotten when there is a new initiative. The trade unions were particularly helpful and Ms Joan Carmichael chaired the HR process for nearly two years. I thank the staff of the HSE, including Mr. Tony O'Brien, and my ministerial colleagues, Deputies Reilly and Shatter. Considerable work was done by the Secretary General of my Department and many others. Mr. Gordon Jeyes and his entire management team were very involved in the background work that led to the establishment of the agency. This is now the time to give those concerned an opportunity to ensure the agency is well-established and that it gets an opportunity to bring its staff entirely with it in making the transition. Transitions can, of course, be challenging, especially when there are 4,000 staff and a budget of more than €600 million to manage. Many milestones have been reached.

The focus now has to be the three year performance framework for the agency, which will form the basis of its first corporate plan. I have already received the business plan from the agency, as I expected. I will be responding to it in the coming weeks in accordance with the provisions in the legislation. I have approximately a month in which to respond. I congratulate Mr. Gordon Jeyes and the team on putting the first business plan in place.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I take it from the Minister's response that there are no immediate matters of serious concern and that the transition has been made smoothly.

Are all the board positions filled? What is the position on sub-committees? How many will there be? Will the Minister ensure accommodation of representation for the Family Resource Centre National Forum in regard to sub-committee participation? I would have argued very strongly for its access to a board position but I noted the Minister's response to that point repeatedly. Perhaps she could address the matter of the sub-committees.

With regard to the launch of the new entity, one of the most critical recommendations in the 2012 report of the independent child death review group, chaired by Dr. Geoffrey Shannon and Ms Norah Gibbons and tasked with investigating the deaths of children in care, was that the child and adolescent mental health services be integrated with the child welfare service and protection work in the community. The meeting of this responsibility and the addressing of children's needs are continuing under the auspices of the Department of Health. Would the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs like to indicate whether it is intended to have the child and adolescent mental health services provided in an integral way under the aegis of the Child and Family Agency? If so, at what time might that be the case?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that all members of the board are in place and that a number of board meetings have taken place. I am not in a position to advise the Deputy on sub-committees yet. I am simply not aware whether the board has yet taken a decision on the exact number of sub-committees. As soon as I have that information, I will let the House know. I imagine the board is still examining the work it must do in deciding on the best way forward.

It has already done a considerable amount of work as a board and I am sure that is a decision it will be considering.

I am not in a position to indicate whether the organisation to which the Deputy referred will have direct representation. Its interests will certainly be represented, however, and family support remains a key objective for the agency. The organisation in question plays a positive role in regard to family resource centres and I have no doubt that role will remain. I am sure the form of consultation with it will also continue as heretofore. The board includes people who represent the interests of family resource centres and support networks.

In regard to the Deputy's second question, this area requires further discussion. We have made the decision that certain groups of staff and organisations will be under the agency. We need to discuss the future of mental health services with a view to reaching agreements between child and adolescent mental health services and the agency in order to put in place the best possible arrangements. Mental health services are critical to the work of the agency. Discussions have commenced in this regard and I will be examining the issue further in the course of this year.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am afraid the time has expired for this question. There is a limit of six minutes.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I did not know that.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am only applying the rules.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I did not notice that I had exceeded the limit.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is the purpose of the clock.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The clock may be wrong.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I assure the Deputy that the clock is not wrong. I will let him in on another question.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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This was the one I wanted to ask.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am sorry; I cannot do anything about it. I have to be fair to every Deputy.