I established the Task Force on the Child and Family Support Agency in September, in response to the Programme for Government commitment to "fundamentally reform the delivery of child protection services by removing child welfare and protection from the HSE and creating a dedicated Child Welfare and Protection Agency, reforming the model of service delivery and improving accountability to the Dáil".
The Task Force will advise my Department in regard to the necessary transition programme to establish a Child and Family Support Agency, and will base its work on best practice in child welfare, family support and public administration; consistent with the Government's public sector reform agenda.
In relation to the Agency it has been asked to:
Propose a vision and the principles to guide operations;
Advise on the appropriate service responsibilities, and the delivery of same;
Review existing financial, staffing and corporate resources; and propose a methodology for resource allocation;
Propose an organisational design and operating child welfare and protection service model;
Prepare a detailed implementation plan;
Identify the main priorities and core relationships required;
Oversee the implementation and monitor progress, pending establishment of the Agency.
The Task Force members are listed below for the Deputy's information.
Chair: Ms Maureen Lynott, Management Consultant, and former Chair, Children First National Guidelines
Mr Jim Breslin, Secretary General, Department of Children and Youth Affairs
Prof Pat Dolan, UNESCO Chair and Director, Child and Family Research Centre, NUI Galway
Ms Norah Gibbons, Director of Advocacy, Barnardos
Mr Gordon Jeyes, National Director, Child & Family Services, HSE
Ms Sylda Langford, former Director General of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
Dr Kevin McCoy, former Chief Inspector, Northern Ireland Social Services Inspectorate
Mr Pat McLoughlin, Chief Executive, Irish Payment Services Organisation Limited
Ms Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop, Chief Executive, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre
Mr Liam Woods, National Director, Finance, HSE.
