David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 152: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the functions, remit and responsibilities of the Minister for Health and Children and the Office of the Minister for Children; the Department the office receives funding from; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13438/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Office of the Minister for Children was 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 achieved in the national children's strategy. The responsibilities of the new office within the Department of Health and Children will comprise the following: the equal opportunities child care programme, transferred from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; the new national child care investment programme, which was announced in the 2006 budget as part of the new national child care strategy for the next five years; the programmes and activities of the former National Children's Office; and policy and legislative work on child welfare and protection conducted by 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 policy unit of the Department of Education and Science will be co-located at the new office. The purpose in bringing these various responsibilities together is to maximise the co-ordination of policies for children and young persons and to provide a strong focus at the highest level. The Office of the Minister for Children will also maintain a general strategic oversight of bodies with responsibility for developing and delivering children's services.

The Minister for Children, who holds delegated responsibilities in the Departments of Health and Children, Education and Science, and Justice, Equality and Law Reform, will attend meetings of the Government on a regular basis. This will give a strong voice for the interests of children and young persons at Cabinet. The Office of the Minister for Children is funded through the Department of Health and Children and includes the following: administration, including salaries — Vote 39; the early child care supplement — Vote 41; the equal opportunities child care programme 2000-2006 — Vote 41; the national child care investment programme 2006-2010 — Vote 41; and the national children's strategy programmes — Vote 41. While the OMC is responsible for the early child care supplement, the Department of Social and Family Affairs will administer it on an agency basis. In addition, the youth justice service will be funded through the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform's Vote and the early years education policy unit will be funded through the Department of Education and Science's Vote. The establishment of the Office of the Minister for Children has not altered the duties and responsibilities of the Minister for Health and Children.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 153: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has responsibility for youth affairs; if so, the interaction between her Department and the Minster for youth affairs in the Department of Education and Science; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13439/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The functions of the new Office of the Minister for Children, within the Department of Health and Children, are as follows: 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 the policy and legislative work on child welfare and protection conducted by 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 be co-located at the new office. However, these Departments will retain responsibility for these areas.

The Office of the Minister for Children has the lead role on children and young people's participation in local and national decision making under goal 1 of the national children's strategy 2000. It has responsibility for ensuring the development of structures for participation such as Dáil na nÓg and Comhairle na nÓg and for promoting children and young people's participation among Departments, State agencies and the non-government sector.

My colleague, Deputy de Valera, Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, has overall responsibility for youth affairs. An official from the National Children's Office — now part of the Office of the Minister for Children — participated on an interdepartmental committee established in the youth affairs section of the Department of Education and Science from November 2004 to May 2005. My office is represented on the national youth work advisory committee established by the Department of Education and Science.