I have an extensive legislative programme to address issues which are within my remit as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Regulatory impact analysis will be conducted at the appropriate time in relation to each Bill.
The Children First Bill, which has been referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for consideration, will be submitted to Government in due course for approval to draft the legislation and at that time the regulatory impact analysis will also be made available.
My Department is also working on the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill. The initial Heads of Bill have been drafted and policy issues currently under consideration will inform the regulatory impact analysis. In advance of the publication of this Bill a regulatory impact analysis will be undertaken and published.
The Child and Family Support Agency Bill will provide for the establishment of the new Child and Family Support Agency which will be responsible for the delivery of services in the areas of child welfare, child protection and family support. A range of matters relating to the new agency, including consideration of the various functions to be discharged and associated governance arrangements, will be addressed in advance of the preparation of the Heads of Bill and General Scheme. A regulatory impact analysis will be undertaken and published in advance of the publication of the Bill.
The Children (Amendment) Bill will provide for the amalgamation of the children detention schools in the interests of cost/administrative efficiencies and the public interest. My Department is currently preparing draft Heads of Bill and a regulatory impact analysis in respect of this Bill which will also be submitted to Government for consideration.
