Vol. 533 No. 6
249 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children when he plans to recruit staff into the child services sections of each health board in order section 11 of the Children Act, 1997 can be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9609/01]
The purpose of section 11 of the Children Act, 1997, is to insert a new Part IV to the Guardianship of Infants Act, 1964. While sections 26, social reports to the District Court, and 28, appointment of a guardian ad litem for a child and provision for separate representation, of this new Part IV remain to be brought into operation by ministerial order, the recently published national children's strategy states that:
action will be taken to implement those provisions of the Children Act, 1997, which provide for the protection of children in the court system who are the subject of custody or access disputes between parents. This action will include: the extension to the District Court of the power to order social reports in guardianship, custody and access proceedings; the provision of a guardian ad litem service in such proceedings to represent the interests of children.
Implementation of the national children's strategy commitments will be co-ordinated by the new National Children's Office which the Government has recently established. The office will report to me in my capacity as Minister of State with responsibility for children and also to the Cabinet committee on children which held its first meeting on 28 March last.
The Deputy may also wish to note that since the Government came into office it has invested an additional £90 million in revenue in the child welfare and protection services. This has allowed for very significant improvements in the services and these improvements will continue.
