Standard of Protection

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald is driving what has been described as the most ambitious, comprehensive reform of child and family services ever undertaken in Ireland.

The formation of the new Child and Family Agency brings, for the first time in the State’s history, a dedicated focus on child protection, family support, and other key children’s services. With it comes an emphasis on the prevention, early intervention, and the provision of assistance to children and their families in managing serious problems with the support of specialised interventions — if they do arise.

The key to prevention is knowing who is at risk, when and how: specialist knowledge and expertise can make the difference between success and failure in child protection.