Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way she plans to resource the yet to be established Child and Family Support Agency in view of the fact that that the Children and Family Services Health Service Executive budget has been cut by approximately €5 million to €546 million; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56778/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the allocation of €546 million in the HSE vote for 2013 in respect of children and family services. This consists of €545 million in current expenditure and €1 million in capital. This level of budgetary provision for child welfare and protection services reflects the priority attached to the Government to this important area. The overall level of resources being provided will be increased further by the inclusion within the remit of the new agency of the budget of both the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board. Some final adjustments to the budget provision may be required on completion of a due diligence and disaggregation exercise which is currently underway within the HSE and which is due to be completed prior to the establishment of the new agency.