Minister: Report forms foundation for 'revolution in child services'

A new report will provide the foundation for a “revolution in child protection and family services”, Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald said today.

The Report of Taskforce on the Child Support and Family Agency has recommended the establishment of an integrated, independent Child Support and Family Agency, stating that services have been fragmented up until now..

It states that the agency should be independent of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs because of its specialist role and function, which needs professional assessment and decision-making.

It has also recommended that public health nursing, speech and language therapy, mental health and psychology services, and detention schools, should be brought under its control.

Proposals include the creation of multidisciplinary local teams, the streamlining of local services under one local manager and the establishment of a single, consistent mechanism for assessment, referrals and tracking supported a new child protection notification system.

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald stated: “the new agency will bring a dedicated focus to child protection and family support for the first time in the history of the State”.

Minister Fitzgerald welcomed the report prepared by the Task Force, chaired by Maureen Lynott, and thanked them for their hard work and commitment on producing such a comprehensive report.

“This report proposes one of the most significant shifts in child welfare in the state’s history,” said Minister Fitzgerald.

“It maps out a single way forward for Irish child and family services and a vision for a range of services, brought together in a manner that has never before been achieved.

“We are going to move from a position where child and family welfare was barely a priority, to a position where it will be the sole focus of a single dedicated State agency, overseen by a single dedicated Government Department.

“Today’s report; and my Department’s agenda represents a vitally important part of this government’s reform programme.

“The establishment of this new agency represents public service reform in practice. We must have much more seamless integration of policy and service delivery, not fragmentation. We must do better for children and families.

“It will take time for us to create this new reality out of the rubble of a system that has been crumbling for decades, but this report is a major step on the road.

“I look forward to discussions with my Ministerial colleagues, existing service providers and interested parties on progressing legislation to establish the new Child and Family Support Agency in 2013.

“I am pleased to announce that this week the Cabinet approved the drafting of legislation to establish this new agency and for a new reality in service provision for children and families.”