Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2017
672. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on establishing a national network of supervised contact centres in order that access to children can be continued in a safe environment for children (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24471/17]
View answerMy Department is committed to supporting and promoting the development, welfare and protection of children, and the effective functioning of families. It is recognised that the dynamics of domestic violence and the safety needs of both children and non-abusing parents must be considered in making appropriate arrangements for children's contact with abusive parents in the case of family breakdown.
I wish to acknowledge the valuable work of the child contact centres which were set up under a pilot project operated by Barnardos and One Family from October 2011 to December 2013. The final evaluation report on the Child Contact Centres, published by One Family in March 2014, recommended that an integrated response by my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality, supported by our relevant agencies (i.e. The Child and Family Agency, the Courts Service, the Probation Service, the Legal Aid Board, the Family Mediation Service, and COSC) would be the best approach to implementing the recommendations.
I have made contact previously with the Minister for Justice and Equality regarding the final evaluation report of the pilot project, suggesting that our two Departments would jointly review the evaluation report in light of changing infrastructural arrangements such as the establishment of the Child and Family Agency and the proposed Family Courts Service. I wish to assure the Deputy that I am committed to examining the potential for advancing further consideration of the final evaluation report’s recommendations in that context and that I will raise this matter again with the Minister for Justice and Equality immediately.
