Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied that the level of staffing and resources will be in place to ensure the implementation of Children First; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26083/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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In July 2011, I launched the revised Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children. The Guidance deals with the recognition, reporting and management of child safety concerns. It emphasises the need to safeguard and to protect children. Among these are that the safety and welfare of children is everyone's responsibility, that children will have safer lives where everyone is attentive to their well being. People who work with children across a range of areas understand their responsibility for safe practice and the reporting of concerns.

It is important to recognize that the original Children First Guidelines have now been in place for over a decade. These Guidelines have over the period been used by the key agencies and their staff involved in the care and protection of children.

It should be noted that the HSE as the statutory body responsible for promoting the welfare of children has in place a network of personnel to provide training, information and advice on the implementation of Children First. The HSE is currently providing a programme of information and training on the new Guidance across the country. This includes the publication of its Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook which I launched last week. This Handbook will facilitate implementation of the Children First Guidance and achieve greater consistency in child protection practice throughout the HSE. I am currently attending meetings with social work personnel in each of the four HSE regions to promote the Children First Guidance. An Garda Síochána are also in attendance at these meetings reflecting the close working relationship they have with the HSE in protecting children. The welcome from social workers at these meetings for the Handbook has been extremely positive. and its clear that the revised Guidance enjoys widespread support.

Beyond the HSE and An Garda Síochána the Children First Guidance has been disseminated widely, including for example to every school in the country.

The consistent implementation of the Children First Guidance in every sector is a priority. My Department is chairing an Inter Departmental Committee to oversee implementation of the Guidance across Government. I will be meeting this Committee in early October.

The Government has also committed, as a priority, to the introduction of legislation to underpin Children First. It is my intention that the legislation will reflect a broad based approach to compliance with obligations extending beyond reporting to one of safeguarding children at risk. The objective will be to ensure the greater protection of children by strengthening the existing system for reporting and responding to suspected child abuse.