Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she expects the new Child and Family Support Agency to be operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7332/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am firmly committed to the transformation of Ireland’s child protection and welfare services, and to the establishment of a new Child and Family Support Agency. The Task Force on the establishment of the Child and Family Support Agency reported in July of 2012. The work of the Task Force informed the development of detailed legislative proposals to Government, covering a range of areas including the function and services to be overseen by the Agency, governance structures and implementation arrangements. Arising out of these proposals, the Government approved the Heads of the Child and Family Support Agency Bill and has also agreed to the priority drafting of this Bill. The Agency, upon establishment, will encompass services which are currently the responsibility of three separate agencies; namely the HSE, the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board. The necessary legislative and organisational preparations are being prioritised so that the Agency can be established as soon as possible. Drafting of the Child and Family Support Agency Bill is at an advanced stage, in line with the policy decisions of Government. I anticipate that the legislation will be presented to the Oireachtas during the current term. A precise target date for the establishment of the new Agency will be set when consideration of the legislation is advanced.

While the legislative process is under way, all necessary organisational preparations are continuing in parallel. These preparations are being overseen by a high level group chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and involving representatives of the Departments of Health and Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE and the incoming management team of the new Agency.

When established, the Agency will constitute one of the largest public agencies in the State with staff of over 4,000 employees. It represents one the largest and most ambitious areas of public sector reform currently underway. I am confident that the establishment of the Agency will bring a dedicated focus to child protection, family support and other key children’s services for the first time in the history of the State and will in time contribute to the transformation of what are essential services for families and communities.