Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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5. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason the CEO of Tusla has resigned; if she has met with the person since the resignation; if the CEO highlighted issues of concern to her; and the steps she will take to recruit a replacement. [38072/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Board of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, informed me on 30 August, 2018 of the decision of the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Fred McBride to resign from his position.

The resignation is to take effect from 30 September 2018. Mr McBride has completed five years with Tusla, first as Chief Operations Officer and then as Chief Executive Officer, and has decided to leave the organisation at this point.

I know that the Board accepted the Chief Executive Officer’s decision with regret, and acknowledged his contribution to the Agency over a period of five years.

I want to thank Mr McBride for his dedication and commitment to the work of Tusla, and to the well-being of children and young people. I believe he has made a very valuable contribution to the development of Tusla as an organisation, and I wish him well for the future.

I have not met with the Chief Executive Officer since the announcement of his resignation, nor have I had any discussion with him since then. I have, of course, had meetings and discussions with the CEO on a regular basis since I became Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in May 2016.

Under Section 28(1) of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, the Board of the Child and Family Agency is responsible for the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer in accordance with the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004.

The Board of the Child and Family Agency is currently considering the process for the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer.