Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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21. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the new legislation she will introduce over the remaining months of 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38724/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My legislative priorities for this Dáil session are to introduce the Children First Bill and the Children (Amendment) Bill and to progress the Child and Family Agency Bill through the Houses.

The Government approved the drafting of the Children First Bill on 24^th July 2013. The draft General Scheme and Heads of Bill had previously been considered by the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children. Following consideration of that Committee's extensive report and the resolution of significant policy, operational and legal issues, the General Scheme and Heads of Bill were revised.

Drafting of the Children First Bill is progressing well and it is my intention that the Bill be introduced during this Dáil session.

On 19 April 2013, the Government approved the drafting of the Children (Amendment) Bill 2013, to provide for the amendment of Parts 9 and 10 of the Children Act 2001 on the basis of the Heads and General Scheme. The main purpose of the Bill is to amalgamate the children detention schools in the interests of achieving efficiencies. The Bill is currently being drafted. It is intended that the Bill will be introduced during this session.

Subject to finalisation of matters related to the Children's Referendum, I intend to introduce the Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2013 to the House. This will be along the lines of the General Scheme of Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2013 which I published in order to inform consideration of the proposed Constitutional amendment on children.

As you know, second stage of the Child and Family Agency Bill concluded in this House on 17 July 2013 and Committee stage will be taken on 3 October next. It is my intention to progress this Bill through to enactment before the end of this year. The Agency will then be established at the earliest possible date following enactment.