Task force charged with reforming child protection

A STATE group tasked with overseeing child protection in Ireland has been set up — a year after former HSE chief executive Prof Brendan Drumm said the health service should not have responsibility for the sector.

The task force on the Child and Family Support Agency was announced by Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald yesterday.

She said the group — which will include representatives from Barnardos, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, academics and health service officials — has been established as part of pre-general election Government commitments.