Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the services that will come under the remit of the new child and family support agency. [15123/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Government has decided that child welfare and protection services will transfer from the Health Service Executive to the new Agency. It has also decided that the services of the Family Support Agency will similarly transfer.

I established the Task Force on the Child and Family Support Agency in September last, to advise my Department in regard to the necessary transition programme to establish a Child and Family Support Agency. The Task Force is chaired by Ms Maureen Lynott and it will base its work on best practice in child welfare, family support and public administration; consistent with the Government's public sector reform agenda. It has been mandated to look at a range of matters, including providing advice to my Department on the appropriate service responsibilities of the Agency and the delivery of same.

Whilst the Task Force has briefed me regarding its ongoing consideration of this issue, my Department awaits receipt of its formal report.

The proposals I will make to the Government in due course regarding the Agency's scope of service will be informed by the work to be completed by the Task Force in that regard.