I would like to inform the Deputy there are four agencies which are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI); the Family Support Agency (FSA); the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children's Office (OCO). With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for the Children Detention Schools as provided in Part 10 of the Children Act 2001. Apart from the Ombudsman for Children's Office which does not have a board, I am responsible for all board of management appointments.
There are currently no vacancies on the board of management for the Children Detention Schools. There is currently one vacancy for an ordinary board member of the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB). I will consider whether it is appropriate to fill this vacancy in light of the proposal that the NEWB will be subsumed into the new Child and Family Agency (CFA) to be established in 2014 subject to the enactment of the proposed legislation.
In relation to the board for the Adoption Authority of Ireland, there is currently one vacancy for an ordinary board member and I anticipate that within the next six months this position will be filled.
There are currently eleven vacancies for ordinary board members on the Family Support Agency (FSA) board that remain to be filled. I am currently in the process of making the necessary appointments to this board. Pending the legal establishment of the CFA, the newly appointed board of the FSA will, in addition to its existing functions, provide oversight and direction to the organisational preparations which are underway for the CFA.
