Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update on the work of the task force on the Child and Family Support Agency to date; and the date on which she expects the Child Protection and Welfare Agency to be operational. [32625/11]

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 2011 under the chairmanship of Ms Maureen Lynott.

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.

As I already outlined, the Task Force will advise on the appropriate service responsibilities for the Agency during the course of its work from amongst those within the HSE that relate to children and family services or from within the relevant operational responsibilities of my Department or its agencies. In this regard I have also asked the Task Force to consider which services should transfer from the outset and which might be subject to a longer timetable. In addition, it has been asked to consider which services should be directly provided by the Agency and which should be commissioned.

The Task Force met for the fifth time today. I look forward to receiving the report of its work, which will inform preparations for the new Agency, including the drafting of legislation. It is my intention, working with my colleague the Minister for Health, to establish a dedicated Child and Family Programme within the HSE in 2012. This will provide for a dedicated management structure and budget for children and family services. Management of these services will be led by the National Director (Mr Gordon Jeyes) who already has a very close working relationship with me and my Department. A considerable change programme is already being implemented by the National Director within HSE Child and Family Services aimed at strengthening organisation capacity, business processes and systems. These developments are an integral part of preparations for the new stand alone Agency. I am anxious to advance the full establishment of the Agency at as early a date as possible, subject to the work of the Task Force and necessary legislature provision. I would envisage tabling legislation before the House next year to provide for the Agency's establishment in 2013.