Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 394: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children where the new office of the Minister with responsibility for children is to be located; the resources (details supplied) to be allocated to the office; the breakdown of the organisational structure; the role and functions of the office; if a separate strategy plan is to be drawn up for the office; the briefs she is undertaking; and which Department Secretary General is responsible for the office. [1573/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The office of the Minister with responsibility for children is being established in accordance with the Government decision of 7 December 2005 to place the interests of children at the heart of Government and to build on the successes already achieved in the context of the national children's strategy. The responsibilities of the new office within the Department of Health and Children will comprise the following functions: the equal opportunities child care programme, transferred from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; the programmes and activities of the National Children's Office; and policy and legislative work on child welfare and protection, transferred from the Department of Health and Children. The new youth justice service of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the early years education functions of the Department of Education and Science will also be located in the new office.

The purpose in bringing the various responsibilities together is to maximise the co-ordination of policies for children and young people and to provide a strong focus at the highest level. As Minister for Children with delegated responsibilities in the Departments of Health and Children, Education and Science and Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I will attend meetings of the Government on a regular basis. This will give a strong voice for the interests of children and young people at Cabinet.

One of the key strengths of the National Children's Office has been its cross-cutting functions which allowed it to work with other agencies in an innovative way. The new structure will allow this work to be continued with a renewed focus in the context of a more comprehensive strategic framework and simpler administrative arrangements.

Ms Sylda Langford has been appointed director general of the office of the Minister for Children within the Department of Health and Children. As the office is within the Department of Health and Children, the Secretary General of that Department will be responsible for the office. The youth justice service of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the early years education functions of the Department of Education and Science will remain the responsibility of the Secretaries General of these Departments respectively.

Work is under way to identify a suitable location for the office. As the office is part of the Department of Health and Children, it will have full logistical support of the corporate services, personnel and finance sections of the Department. Strategic decisions will be finalised when the basic organisational structure is in place. The office will be included in any revised statement of strategy for the Department of Health and Children. With regard to the funding of the office, the resources concerned are the subject of discussions with the Department of Finance and will be announced on the publication of the revised Estimates.