Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of personnel dedicated to dealing with children at risk throughout the Health Service Executive; the degree to which her Department interacts with other Departments on such issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24508/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for the delivery of child welfare and protection services. The Office of the Minister for Children focuses on harmonising policy issues that affect children in areas such as early childhood care and education, youth justice, child welfare and protection, children and young people's participation, research on children and young people and cross-cutting initiatives for children. In developing policy in respect of children at risk, the Office of the Minister for Children liaises with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and other Government Departments as appropriate.

The Deputy's question has been forwarded to the HSE and I have requested that the HSE reply to the Deputy directly with regard to the information he sought on the number of HSE personnel dedicated to dealing with children at risk.