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Health Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006

Tuesday, 4 July 2006

Questions (167)

Richard Bruton

Question:

179 Mr. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the details on the new health and education services national management structure established within the Health Service Executive; the details of its management structure and planned strategy; and if it has begun its review of the statutory role of the Special Residential Services Board. [25661/06]

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Written answers

There is no health and education services national management structure established within the Health Service Executive as referred to by the Deputy. I understand from inquiries made of the Deputy's office that the question concerns information provided in the April, 2006 "Relate" publication from Comhairle concerning reform of the Youth Justice system. As the Deputy will be aware the Irish Youth Justice Service is being established as an executive office of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in accordance with the Government decision of December, 2005. The office is under the strategic direction of the Director General of the Office of the Minister for Children. The remit of the Irish Youth Justice Service is

to develop a unified youth justice policy

to devise and implement a national youth justice strategy to manage all youth offending detention facilities

to manage the implementation of the Children Act, 2001 insofar as it concerns Youth Justice

to establish and administer national and local youth justice oversight arrangements.

The necessary legal changes are being made to the Children Act 2001 via the Criminal Justice Bill, 2004 to allow for this policy to be put into effect.

The Deputy should note that, as part of the Youth Justice reforms, the Department of Education and Science has been charged with the preparation of an education strategy for children in detention schools and special care. The strategy will focus on the key principle of early intervention, the specific educational needs of children in detention and in special care and the supports required to assist with their reintegration into the community.

The Health Service Executive is in the process of recruiting a national manager for high support/special care to establish a dedicated national structure for the management of these services (and to facilitate a more planned and strategic approach in this context). I have therefore, asked the Executive to provide the Deputy with up to date details on this.

The Deputy will be aware that on the basis of the Government decision on the establishment of the Irish Youth Justice Service that Part 12 of the Criminal Justice Bill, 2004 amends the Children Act 2001 including the functions and membership of the SRSB. The Bill has now passed all stages in the Dáil and is currently before the Seanad. These changes to the SRSB reflect the policy intent of the Youth Justice Service reforms.

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