Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 December 2012
119. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the Family Resource Centre National Forum will be represented at board level in the new Child and Family Support Agency. [54948/12]
View answer120. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure that the budget for the Family Resource Centre programme will be ring fenced and protected in her Department's budget and under the new Child and Family Support Agency. [54949/12]
View answer121. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs If she will ensure that the ethos, culture and role of the Family Resource Centre network in the delivery of community-based universal services and early intervention services will be fully maintained when the Family Resource Centres move to the new Child and Family Support Agency. [54950/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 119 to 121, inclusive, together.
The Government has given approval to the drafting of a Bill to establish the Child and Family Support Agency. Work on the preparation of the legislation is proceeding as a priority and the intention is that the Agency will be established in early 2013. In order to inform the content of the legislation the Government has decided that upon establishment the Child and Family Support Agency will have responsibility for a range of services. This includes the full range of child welfare and protection services currently operated by the HSE including family support and alternative care services. It has also been decided that due to its particular relevance domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services will also be included within the Agency's responsibilities. The Government has further decided that the new Agency will assume responsibility for the functions of both the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board. These two organisations currently operate under the aegis of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
It is my intention that the work of the new agency will include a particular focus on the provision of services that could help prevent problems arising for a family, that would identify problems and provide supports at an early stage and that would assist children and families in managing serious problems requiring specialised interventions beyond their own resources. Therefore, in addition to child welfare and protection services there will be an emphasis on prevention, early intervention, family support and therapeutic care interventions. I can assure the Deputy that the focus of the new Agency will build on the excellent work undertaken by the Family Support Agency over the last decade. The additional issues raised by the Deputy are being given consideration as part of the preparation of the legislation necessary to give effect to the establishment of the new agency.
