Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 402: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will support and develop services for vulnerable children. [1218/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The development of robust, responsive and appropriate child welfare and protection services is a priority for both myself as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the Government. Following my appointment as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I initiated and chair regular meetings with senior officials from the Health Service Executive so as to drive reform and modernisation of services for children and families.

Recent years have seen a period of major investment in child care and family support services to enable an appropriate response to child welfare concerns with over €240 million of Government funds added to the annual investment in child care services since 1997. The core principle underpinning the allocation of this additional funding is to provide children and young people with the appropriate care and to provide services to protect them, as far as possible, from all forms of harm. The Health Service Executive continues to develop new services for children at risk, aimed at preventing them entering long term care and enabling them to return to their family, if appropriate and in the child's best interest.

"The Agenda for Children's Services" is the new overarching policy document of my Office and was launched in December 2007. The Agenda, with its clear renewed emphasis on family support coupled with reflective questions to enable service provider self evaluation, represents the fundamental change now underway on how Government policy in relation to children is formulated and delivered. It has been developed drawing on research and best practice at home and internationally. It requires an outcome focus and integrated service delivery in line with the recommendations of the OECD review of the Irish public service. To help implement the policies and principles in the Agenda, at the instigation of my Office, the Executive is well advanced in the process of developing a Children and Families services policy. This is vital to effective reform and rebalancing of children's services. My Office is involved in the development of this policy working in partnership with the Health Service Executive.

One of the key messages of the Children First National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children is that responsibility for protecting children must be shared by all adults. Anyone who works with, has responsibility for, or comes into contact with, children should be aware of the signs of abuse, be alert to the possibility of abuse, and be familiar with the basic procedures to report their concerns. I am confident that my Office and the Health Service Executive will bring about significantly improved and integrated child welfare and protection services for all children who need such services.