Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children's services committees established to date; the location of these committees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2022/11]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Children's Services Committees (CSCs) are part of what is known as the Working Together for Children initiative. The first phase included four CSCs which are located in Dublin City, South Dublin, Donegal and Limerick City. These are implementing work plans which they have already agreed. A further six CSCs in the following locations are at different stages of development: Fingal; Kildare; Longford/Westmeath; Kerry; Louth and Carlow. It is hoped that all ten CSCs will have workplans or revised plans agreed by June 2011. It is anticipated that a third phase of CSCs will begin preparatory work in 2011.

The national social partnership agreement Towards 2016 outlines a framework on the needs of children and young people and the establishment of the National Children's Strategy Implementation Group (NCSIG). This high-level group is chaired by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA). The vision of the NCSIG is that children, young people and their families will receive the support and services they need to create better futures for children, through all local agencies and organisations working together. The aim is to avoid duplication of effort, support sensible collaboration in service delivery and also provides an opportunity for agencies to assess the gaps sometimes caused by agency or service boundaries.

The model for integrated service delivery is being developed through the establishment of Children's Services Committees (CSCs) on a phased basis. All organisations and agencies working locally on behalf of children and young people are represented on the Children's Services Committees or sub committees.