Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied that a network of youth or youth liaison officers are likely to be a feature of future child support whether in conjunction with child protection legislation or otherwise; the extent to which adequate enhancement of child psychological services is likely to emerge; if she intends to produce a menu of such support services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46765/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department administers a range of services and programmes for young people through a number of different schemes. Funding of some €56.806 is available in 2012 to support the delivery of these services and programmes through the different schemes which include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund, Youth Information Centres, the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, the Local Drugs Force Task Scheme and certain other programmes including Gaisce - the President’s Award. These funding schemes support national and local youth work provision and involve approximately 1,400 paid staff and 40,000 volunteers working in youth services and communities around the country in some 477 projects.

As a support to this significant infrastructure, my Department provides funding for the employment of 24.5 (WTE) Youth Officer posts in VECs throughout the country. These Youth Officers have an important role to play in the delivery of quality youth services funded by my Department. They assist my Department also in administering grant-aid funding allocations to the local youth services/clubs in their respective areas. Youth Officers have a specific function in supporting the implementation of the National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) for staff-led youth work around the country and they will have a significant role in the implementation of the forthcoming National Quality Standards for Local Volunteer-led youth groups.

One of the core principles of the NQSF and the National Quality Standards is a commitment to ensuring and promoting the safety and well-being of young people. Youth Officers support youth projects and organisations in working to achieve key indicators in this regard for young people attending services. Children First- National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children is being implemented by the youth sector throughout their services with the support of the National Youth Council of Ireland’s Child Protection Programme which is funded by my Department. The Youth Sector will work closely with the new Child and Family Support Agency to promote children and young people’s safety and well being.

The final report of the Task Force which I established to advise on the necessary transition programme to establish a Child and Family Support Agency, made recommendations on a number of key issues. These include recommendations on a range of services, including Child Psychology Services, which, in the opinion of the Task Force, should fall within the remit of the new Agency. I share with the view of the Task Force, that in order to achieve genuine improvements for children and families, the Agency must have a broader focus than child protection. Prevention, early intervention, family support and therapeutic & care interventions are all key to the provision of integrated multi-disciplinary services for children and families based on identified need.

The Task Force recommendations are being given detailed consideration in preparing for the establishment of the new Agency, and I will bring proposals to Government in this regard. It is my intention that the Child and Family Support Agency will assume statutory responsibility for services for children and families in early 2013. The necessary legislation is being prepared by my Department as a priority.