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The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, TD, today (23 September 2011) announced the setting up of the Task Force on the Child & Family Support Agency. The Minister emphasised the Programme for Government commitment to "fundamentally reform the delivery of child protection services by removing child welfare and protection from the HSE and creating a dedicated Child Welfare and Protection Agency, reforming the model of service delivery and improving accountability to the Dáil".

The Minister commented that she was "delighted with the calibre of the Task Force membership, and thanked those involved for contributing their expertise to this important reform" .

The Task Force will advise the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) in regard to the necessary transition programme to establish a Child & Family Support Services Agency, and will base its work on best practice in child welfare, family support and public administration; consistent with the Government’s public sector reform agenda.

In relation to the Agency it has been asked to:

· Propose a vision and the principles to guide operations;

· Advise on the appropriate service responsibilities, and the delivery of same;

· Review existing financial, staffing and corporate resources; and propose a methodology for resource allocation;

· Propose an organisational design and operating child welfare and protection service model;

· Prepare a detailed implementation plan;

· Identify the main priorities and core relationships required;

· Oversee the implementation and monitor progress, pending establishment of the Agency.

Minister Fitzgerald met with the Task Force at their inaugural meeting last week. She stated that she "believes that this is an opportunity to deliver a comprehensive range of high performing and accountable interventions that support better outcomes for children and families".

The Task Force is currently finalising a detailed work programme. The Task Force's work will inform preparations for the new Agency, including the drafting of legislation, which the Minister wishes to see advanced as quickly as possible.

The Task Force will provide updates as it undertakes its important work. Ms Maureen Lynott, Chair of the Task Force, said she

. Membership

· Chair: Ms Maureen Lynott,

Management Consultant, and former Chair, Children First National Guidelines

· Jim Breslin,

Secretary General, Department of Children and Youth Affairs

· Prof Pat Dolan,

UNESCO Chair and Director, Child and Family Research Centre, NUI Galway

· Norah Gibbons,

Director of Advocacy, Barnardos

· Gordon Jeyes,

National Director, Child & Family Services, HSE

· Sylda Langford,

former Director General of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

· Dr Kevin McCoy,

former Chief Inspector, Northern Ireland Social Services Inspectorate

· Pat McLoughlin,

Chief Executive, Irish Payment Services Organisation Limited

· Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop,

Chief Executive, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

· Liam Woods,

National Director, Finance, HSE