Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied regarding the availability of sufficient funds being available to her Department notwithstanding the on-going economic situation in view of pressing need to ensure that youth and children services receive the fullest possible attention thereby presenting the recurrence of previous happenings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33666/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The gross estimate provision for my Department in 2012 is €426.980 million. This represents an increase of €7.8 million, or 2%, on last year's outturn. In addition, the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2012 indicates, for the first time, a dedicated sub-head budget provision of €550.7 million for HSE children and family services. The equivalent budget figure for 2011 is estimated at €529.7 million. The HSE figures are the subject of ongoing validation and refinement in the context of the establishment of the new Child and Family Support Agency. The Agency will be established early next year and will take over responsibility from the HSE for children and family services.

I acknowledge the service pressures within children and youth services, including those arising from demographic factors. In the context of the wider economic situation, I am satisfied that the increased budgetary provision in 2012 demonstrates that significant priority has been afforded to the services funded by my Department and the HSE in these areas.