Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will review her decision to move psychology services out of the Health Service Executive and into the new Child and Family Support Agency and consider an alternative proposal where psychology services remain in primary care with contractual arrangements with the Child and Family Support Agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10313/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Arising from the Government's consideration and decision with regard to the range of functions to be discharged by the new Child and Family Support Agency, it was agreed that an impact analysis be jointly developed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Health regarding the proposed future arrangements for the provision of the community psychology service as it relates to children and family services covered by the Child and Family Support Agency and to services provided by the HSE. This work is being undertaken as a priority.

I have met with representatives from the Heads of the Psychology Services Ireland and with a delegation from the IMPACT trade union to discuss issues relating to the future governance and organisational arrangements for the provision of community based psychology services. Our shared objective is to ensure that the optimal national governance and service delivery framework is in place to ensure the best possible outcomes for children and families and other clients who need to avail of this key service. The views of the profession and its representatives will receive appropriate consideration as part of the impact analysis.