Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House for this most important piece of legislation - the most important legislation we will deal with for a while. Senator Leyden referred to the number of women in the House versus men. The gender ratio has improved since we started. At that point Senator Leyden was the only man in the Chamber, and I was saying to myself, "Terry, blessed art thou among women," and asking myself if children and family are still the women's prerogative. Hopefully not. We were talking about women in politics. The emphasis needs to change to joint participation and I am delighted to see the gender balance has improved in the Seanad since we started, because when we first examined it the balance was 75:25 and decreasing.

I sincerely commend the Minister, her backroom staff and the Department for introducing the Bill and for the most comprehensive approach taken to drafting it. I understand the scale of the work which has gone into the unification of the various agencies and Departments involved with families and children. It is a highly positive step in streamlining accessibility to the services. We are all very aware of the failures which have occurred in child protection services in the past. I know from experience that it is a very complex area to monitor and that a huge number of groups work with families and children. The legislation and the agency will streamline them and get them talking to one another. The Minister has outlined her philosophy which involves communication, integration, bringing people together, assessment, intervention, co-operation and the relationship between and responsibilities of the various agencies involved. This was very badly needed. We will now know who is doing what, who is responsible for what, when, where and how.

The inclusion in the programme for Government of the establishment of Ireland's first dedicated child and family agency was very important and the Minister recognised its urgency. The legislation addresses the issue of gaining public confidence and trust in the protection and esteem we afford children. The aims and objectives of all child protection legislation must have the welfare and best interests of the child at heart. I disagree with Senator Terry Leyden who stated it was all about the agency. The legislation is not all about the agency; it is all about the child and getting agencies and groups working in the best interests of the child, as evidenced by the regulations and provisions, with the best interests and views of the child being taken into account throughout.

The establishment of the agency places a direct focus on child protection and other linked agencies. It is the first time in our history that such a unified approach is being taken, enacting into law real political action and change, for which I commend the Minister. It is clear that the process involved and the project in general are highly ambitious and the end product is something in which we can take pride. The structure of the authority is transparent and easily traceable, from the area manager to the CEO. If there is a breach or issues arise, the structure allows for a clear line of responsibility and accountability for the various factors involved. It aims to ensure no child will slip through the net or system or be neglected by the State. We should have this structure in every Department and I say "Well done" to the Minister for taking this route.

I welcome the composition of the board which is not based on a prescriptive approach. A multidisciplinary approach is needed for a huge organisation such as the new agency. It must be a big agency to co-operate with all of the various facets involved. The budget of more than €500 million is welcome, but given the importance of this area, we could obviously do with more.

It is clear various experts and expertise are vital to ensure the efficiency of the agency. I welcome the expertise in the areas of finance, communications and human resources. This process needs strong leadership and a comprehensive approach to enable the best decisions to be made. Listening to the voice of the child and giving it due weight according to age are provided for in the legislation, which is welcome, as all too often children are to be seen and not heard. I hope we will achieve optimum results for the capital invested in child welfare services, which is what we strive for. There has always been a contentious debate about the balance between keeping children within the family and keeping them from the home. The Minister has highlighted the importance of early intervention to ensure the child is kept and that the family is helped in the home. This is her philosophy which she has outlined many times in the House. I have also outlined it.

I welcome the dialogue on performance in managing and awarding funding, as the task force on the legislation recommended. It allows for the prioritisation of certain key areas and the Minister to keep the structure in line with other Government policies. This is based on the OECD approach whereby multi-annual budgets are seen to be more valuable to services.

The issues involved are very sensitive and I have seen those who work in the area. I highlight the need for minimum qualifications and welcome the training aspect. Will the Minister consider providing assistance for the training and upskilling of some of the very good staff who have been working for years in playschools and preschools, including those which use the Montessori method? People with experience working with children must be recognised. I ask the Minister to comment on this issue, on which she and her team have carried out hugely significant operational and logistical work. A previous speaker mentioned informal child care services. I welcome the continuation of area-based childhood services and the CDI in Tallaght, with which the Minister is familiar. I also welcome the eight new projects announced today, on which I congratulate the Minister.

We could speak about this issue forever and it would be no harm to do so because family, child care and elder care services are very important.