Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2009
624 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children the additional services which will be provided by the establishment of constituency children’s services committees which were sanctioned in December 2007 under The Agenda for Children Services: A Policy Hand Book and confirm whether this is another layer of bureaucracy for the provision of children’s services. [39166/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe national social partnership agreement Towards 2016 outlines a framework on the needs of children and young people and the establishment of the National Children’s Strategy Implementation Group (NCSIG). This high-level group is chaired by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA).
The vision of the NCSIG is that children, young people and their families will receive the support and services they need to create better futures for children, through all local agencies and organisations working together. The aim is to avoid duplication of effort, support sensible collaboration in service delivery and also provides an opportunity for agencies to assess the gaps sometimes caused by agency or service boundaries.
The model for integrated service delivery is being developed through the establishment of Children's Services Committees (CSCs) on a phased basis. Four initial multi-agency Children's Services Committees have been established in Dublin City, South Dublin, Limerick City and Donegal. They are not an additional layer to services but the coming together of local service providers in an effort to ensure that the needs of children and families are being met by service providers.
All organisations and agencies working locally on behalf of children and young people are represented on the Children's Services Committees. These Committees will be responsible for improving the lives of children and families at local and community level through integrated planning, working and service delivery. They will also ensure that professionals and agencies work together in order that children and families receive better and more accessible services.
The learning from the set-up and early operation of these four committees will help to inform the most effective way of establishing the other 30 Children's Services Committees in the remaining City and/or County Development Boards. The OMCYA is currently liaising with new sites in the pre-development phase and working on their establishment based on learning from the first four CSCs.
