Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 July 2012
49 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the distinct budget that has been allocated to the management and reporting structure being put in place in children and family services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33336/12]
View answerIn preparation for the establishment of the new Child and Family Support Agency work is under way on disaggregating the Children and Families budget from within the overall HSE financial determination. This necessary work will be completed in the latter half of 2012 in preparation for the planned establishment of the new agency early in 2013. The 2012 budget provision for Children and Families in the HSE National Service Plan is €568 million across all services. A separate figure in respect of management and reporting is not described. The current reporting systems in the HSE are not designed in such a way as to readily facilitate the provision of national data relative to this area.
It is my intention and that of the National Director, Gordon Jeyes as the Chief Executive Officer designate for the new Agency, to ensure that there is full transparency with regard to the composition of the budget for the new Agency when established. I acknowledge the need for improvement and greater accountability in this area as part of our concerted efforts to strengthen the governance and organisational arrangements in respect of children and family services generally.
Governance arrangements for the new Agency will be further addressed in the report of the Task Force of the New Agency.
