Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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812. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his response to comments by the CEO of Tusla that his agency's budget is insufficient for 2014; if he anticipates the need to introduce a Supplementary Estimate to address this shortfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30839/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The financial allocation for the Child and Family Agency in 2014, its first year of operation, was set at €609m, including €7m in capital funding. This included an additional revenue provision of €6.7m (€12.0m in a full year) to support the reform of Child Welfare and Protection Services by the Agency this year.

It is acknowledged that delivering the range of service required of the Agency, within this budget, is challenging. Notwithstanding the significant level of resource provided, certain areas of expenditure, such as legal costs, have in the past proven difficult to manage within the allocated budget. The Agency is implementing significant reform to seek to achieve greater value for money in such areas and the progress in this regard is subject to ongoing monitoring and review with my Department.

We will work closely with the Board and senior management of the Agency to ensure the provision within the significant resource provided, of high quality and responsive services to vulnerable children and families.