Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 450: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a working group has been set up for the development of the child protection agency; the persons on this working group; if any non-governmental organisation that works with women and children who are victims of domestic violence has been included in the group, in view of the fact that such experience would be invaluable; if a group has been set up; if not, when same will happen; how the members will be chosen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29877/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I established the Task Force on the Child and Family Support Agency in September, in response to the Programme for Government commitment to "fundamentally reform the delivery of child protection services by removing child welfare and protection from the HSE and creating a dedicated Child Welfare and Protection Agency, reforming the model of service delivery and improving accountability to the Dáil".

The Task Force will advise my Department in regard to the necessary transition programme to establish a Child and Family Support Agency, and will base its work on best practice in child welfare, family support and public administration; consistent with the Government's public sector reform agenda.

In relation to the Agency it has been asked to:

- Propose a vision and the principles to guide operations;

- Advise on the appropriate service responsibilities, and the delivery of same;

- Review existing financial, staffing and corporate resources; and propose a methodology for resource allocation;

- Propose an organisational design and operating child welfare and protection service model;

- Prepare a detailed implementation plan;

- Identify the main priorities and core relationships required;

- Oversee the implementation and monitor progress, pending establishment of the Agency.

The Task Force members are listed below for the Deputy's information.

- Chair: Ms Maureen Lynott, Management Consultant, and former Chair, Children First National Guidelines

- Mr Jim Breslin, Secretary General, Department of Children and Youth Affairs

- Prof Pat Dolan, UNESCO Chair and Director, Child and Family Research Centre, NUI Galway

- Ms Norah Gibbons, Director of Advocacy, Barnardos

- Mr Gordon Jeyes, National Director, Child & Family Services, HSE

- Ms Sylda Langford, former Director General of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

- Dr Kevin McCoy, former Chief Inspector, Northern Ireland Social Services Inspectorate

- Mr Pat McLoughlin, Chief Executive, Irish Payment Services Organisation Limited

- Ms Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop, Chief Executive, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

- Mr Liam Woods, National Director, Finance, HSE.