Reform of child services under way, says Andrews

MINISTER for Children Barry Andrews insisted work on implementing recommendations contained in a new report on child services would be stepped up in the coming months.

The minister also said that he had read the report by PA Consulting, leaked by Fine Gael last week, which highlighted serious deficiencies in the delivery of child and family services.

The draft report was compiled last year and handed to the HSE in October, but details of it only emerged on Thursday when it was leaked to Fine Gael’s spokesperson on children Alan Shatter.