Marie Moloney (Labour)

Unfortunately, we have only one minute to speak but we could speak for hours on this matter because it is so in-depth. I add my voice to those who have commended the Minister on her work to date. It is most impressive and although she has not been in office for long she has done a good deal of work and I thank her for it.

I wish to raise one issue to which the Minister gave only a fleeting reference in the report, that is, the issue of family resource centres. The Minister referred to the importance of early intervention in family support and the need to identify and intervene as early as possible. To my mind this is exactly what the family resource centres are doing. They invite people in and go through the problems. Families do not feel they are going to an official Department. They identify the problems and they are an integral part of the set-up. They deserve more than simply a fleeting mention.

The national forum for family resource centres represents 107 family resource centres. However, there is no representative from the forum on the new agency the Minister is setting up. Will she consider appointing a representative from the family resource centres to the agency? Those involved have endeavoured to hold a personal meeting with the Minister and they have been waiting for it for some time. Will the Minister see her way to meeting them in the near future because they have several important issues they wish to discuss?