Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 470: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the work programme for the taskforce charged with setting up the child and family support agency has been completed; when she expects the agency to be fully operational; the resources that will be allocated to the agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32863/11]

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. Resource allocation for the new Agency will largely be determined by the services for which it will have responsibility; in terms of both direct provision and commissioning. The Task Force has been asked to review the existing budgets, staffing and other corporate supports in respect of the services transferring. Further, the Task Force has been asked to assess and propose, within the resources available for the transferring services, a plan for resource and staffing configuration which takes full account of the overall corporate vision, indicators of need (geographically and by service) and the objectives of public sector reform and modernisation.

In relation to the work programme, the Task Force held its fifth plenary meeting last week. The final stages of a detailed work programme for the three sub-groups are still being finalised, and will be determined following some of the exploratory work currently underway. I look forward to receiving the report of the Task Force's 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.