Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline the legal status of the interim arrangements between the Health Service Executive and the new Child and Family Support Agency. [9503/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am firmly committed to the transformation of Ireland’s children and family service, and in this context, to the establishment as a priority of the new Child and Family Support Agency. The Agency, upon establishment, will assume full statutory responsibility for a range of child and family services currently provided by three separate agencies; namely the HSE, the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board.

Drafting of the legislation necessary to establish the Agency is at an advanced stage. This will be a very comprehensive piece of legislation, providing as it does for the subsuming of functions from three separate agencies and assigning responsibilities in relation to the care and protection of children and the promotion of their welfare. Pending the establishment of the Agency the functions which are due to transfer will continue to be discharged by the relevant statutory bodies.