Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 March 2013
223. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the legislation to establish the new Child and Family Support Agency will be published; if she intends to publish the heads of the Bill before that; when she expects that the new agency will be established and operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15776/13]
View answerThis legislation has been identified as a priority within my Department. My officials have been working closely with the Office of the Parliamentary Council to finalise the draft text of the Bill.
It is anticipated that my Department will be in a position to publish the Child and Family Support Agency Bill during the next session. It is not intended at this stage to publish the Heads of the Bill in advance of publication of the Bill proper. However, I will be consulting with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children and engaging broadly with stakeholders. It is difficult at this remove to estimate with any accuracy the operational date of the new Agency. Once the Bill has been published and operational planning is further advanced, I hope to be in a position to give a more precise estimate of the establishment date.
