Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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302. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the justification for the removal of the line "Resource Túsla [Child and Family Agency] to ensure a comprehensive range of services for families throughout a child's first year of life and beyond" from the draft programme for Government and not including it in the final document; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14026/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Government is strongly committed to supporting Tusla's work for children and families across the full range of its services. Since my appointment I have already been working closely with the Chair and Chief Executive of Tusla, alongside my own Department, to ensure that we deliver the best possible quality of services within the resources available. Tusla received an additional €38m in Budget 2016 to consolidate and further develop its funding base, and I will seek to build on this progress in the discussions on Budget 2017.

I am on record in my determination to ensure the provision of a comprehensive range of services throughout a child's life. Nothing in the final text of the Programme for Government takes away from my commitment, or that of the Government, to supporting Tusla in delivering vital services to children and families.