Ruth Coppinger
Ceist:188. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will report on the regulation of the guardian ad litem service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8886/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 21 February 2018
Ceisteanna (188)
Freagraí scríofa
I am working to reform the current Guardian ad litem arrangements for children in child care proceedings. The objectives of these reforms are to extend the Guardian ad litem system to benefit the greatest number of children and young people, and to provide a service that is high quality and sustainable into the future.
In response to the Joint Committee for Children and Youth Affairs recommendations that the new Guardian ad litem service be set up as a statutory independent body from the outset, I secured Government approval in December 2017 to establish a new national Guardian ad litem service within an Executive Office in my Department. This will be done on an interim basis with a view to longer term arrangements for the Executive Office being dealt with in the context of the proposed transition to a Family Courts system. I have revised the General Scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill, published in January 2017, to reflect this change.
The revised General Scheme, which will be published on my Department’s website very shortly, also addresses further recommendations made by the Joint Committee in relation to providing an appropriate voice and equal opportunity to be heard for a child in child care proceedings and in respect of the status and powers of the Guardian ad litem.
I and my Department are working to finalise the Child Care (Amendment) Bill as early as possible in 2018. We are also advancing preparatory work on the establishment of the new Executive Office with a view to having it operational as soon as is practicable following enactment of the legislation.