I am firmly committed to the transformation of Ireland’s child protection and welfare services, and to the establishment of a new Child and Family Support Agency (CFSA).
The Government has approved the Heads of the Child and Family Support Agency Bill and has also agreed to the priority drafting of this Bill. The necessary legislative and organisational preparations are being prioritised so that the CFSA can be established early in 2013. A precise target date for the transfer of staff will be set when consideration of the legislation is advanced. From its establishment the Child and Family Support Agency will have service responsibility for:
- Child welfare and protection services currently operated by the HSE including family support and alternative care services.
- Child and family related services for which the HSE currently has responsibility including pre-school inspections and domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services.
- Community based psychology services as they relate to children and families services covered by the Child and Family Support Agency and to services provided by the HSE. With regard to psychology services my Department and the Department of Health are currently jointly undertaking an impact analysis of the proposed future arrangement.
- The Family Support Agency which currently operates as a separate body under the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and will be merged into the new Agency.
- The National Educational Welfare Board which also currently operates as a separate body under the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and will be merged into the new Agency.
It is my intention that the CFSA will address the persistent issues which have been raised regarding the standardisation and consistency of service provision across the country particularly in the areas of child welfare and protection. At the same time, the CFSA will have a stronger role in supporting families - providing less complex, less intrusive, less expensive responses which have a preventive function. In order to achieve genuine improvements for children and families, the CFSA will have a broad focus. Prevention, early intervention, family support and therapeutic and care interventions are all key to the provision of integrated multi-disciplinary services for children and families based on identified need.
Inclusion of the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board will also broaden the professional, accessible, service and community based resources of the organisation which will assist in creating more holistic and accessible approaches to support for children and families, particularly those that are most vulnerable.
An amount of €546 million has been allocated in the HSE vote for 2013 in respect of children and family services. This consists of €545 million in current expenditure and €1 million in capital. This level of budgetary provision for child welfare and protection services reflects the priority attached to the Government to this important area. The overall level of resources being provided will be increased further by the inclusion within the remit of the new agency of the budget of both the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board. Some final adjustments to the budget provision are likely to be required to reflect the final service configuration of the Agency on completion of a due diligence exercise which is currently underway within the HSE and which is due to be completed prior to the establishment of the new agency.
