New agency to take charge of child protection

THERE has been a widespread welcome from children’s groups to the announcement by the new Minister for Children that she will be removing child protection services from the HSE and establishing a stand-alone agency.

Speaking on RTÉ, Minister Frances Fitzgerald said there had been “major problems” with the current system and that she wanted to make child protection an independent agency under her department.

All the children’s groups voiced the importance of the new agency being “accountable and transparent”.