Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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377. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has responsibility for Child Protection Services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51427/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The operation, management and delivery of child welfare and protection services is a matter for the Health Service Executive under the Health Act, 2004 and the Child Care Act, 1991 as amended. The Child Care Act 1991, as amended, sets out the statutory framework within which the Health Service Executive provides family support and child welfare and protection services. Matters of policy and legislation fall within the remit of my Department. My Department is also responsible for the harmonisation of policy issues across sectors.

The new Child and Family 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. On establishment of the Agency the functions which are due to transfer will continue to be discharged by the relevant statutory bodies.

Following the Government decision on the Heads of Bill in November last, work on the drafting of the legislation – the Child and Family Agency Bill – was advanced in conjunction with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. The legislation to establish the new Agency has completed its passage through the Dáil and is currently being considered by the Seanad.

Concurrently, a comprehensive change programme is currently being implemented in the HSE and is addressing the quality and consistency of child welfare and protection services. This change process will continue into the new Child and Family Agency.