Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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27. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the submission to the Joint Committee on Health and Children by a person (details supplied), particularly where they strongly urge that rather than adding to the already enormous pressure on the Child and Family Agency, satellite type services, embedded within existing community centres like schools and addiction services centres, are preferable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43926/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Dr. Helen Buckley in her recent submission to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children on 4 November last, raises a range of significant issues in relation to the capacity of the Child and Family Agency to deal with the demands being place on it, now and into the future. These issues include numbers and location of social workers, waiting lists, early intervention and family support, and statistical information.

These issues, which are at the heart of the delivery of an efficient and effective child welfare and protection service, are the subject of on-going and regular contact between my officials and officials of the Child and Family Agency, both in the context of the development of that Agency’s corporate and business plans, and in regular performance monitoring meetings. The specific issues raised by Dr. Buckley will be considered in this context and in the broader context of cross government work, including her recommendation in relation to the provision of social work services to children and families in the sites where their difficulties emerge, such as schools and health services.

I note that Dr. Buckley commends developments in relation to community based prevention and partnership initiatives being established by the Child and Family Agency.

Dr. Buckley’s submission also references the Children First Interdepartmental Group, and suggests that it should be established on a permanent basis. The provisions of Part 4 of the Children First Bill 2014, published in April 2014, relate to the Children First Inter Departmental Implementation Group. Section 17 of the Bill provides for the establishment of the Group on a statutory basis and section 18 provides that all Government Departments will be represented on the Group. The Group currently operates on an administrative basis, and Dr. Buckley’s suggestions in relation to the establishment of child protection units in the HSE and in the education sector will be raised with that Group.

Finally, I fully agree with Dr. Buckley in relation to her assessment of the significance of relevant adult services such as domestic violence, addiction and mental health services in the context of child welfare and protection, and the Children First Bill 2014 defines certain persons working in these services as mandated persons with an obligation to report abuse and to assist the Agency if requested to do so.