Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the action taken to date to extend social work services provided to families and children at risk to a seven day 24 hour service as recommended by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in its second periodic report adopted on 29 September 2006 reviewing Ireland's compliance with its international obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. [2784/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware this matter relates to the management and delivery of health and social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. In October the Management Team of the Health Service Executive adopted the report of a National Working Group, set up in 2006 to examine out of hours Child Protection Services. The report was subsequently submitted to the Department of Health and Children for consideration.

The Department through the Office of Minister for Children is working with the HSE to see how best resources to address the social work out of hours service can be provided as a service requirement within the overall social work services provided by the HSE.