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Children & Youth Affairs Minister Frances Fitzgerald announced today that she had received Government approval for the drafting of Heads and a General Scheme of a Bill to establish the Child and Family Support Agency. The Heads and a General Scheme of a Bill will now be drafted by her officials.

The Minister said

The development of the Heads and General Scheme of a Bill to establish a Child and Family Support Agency will provide for the implementation of the commitment in the Programme for Government 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 Support Agency.

The Minister added

The other objectives of the Programme for Government to reform the model of service delivery and improve accountability to the Dáil will be a significant focus of the Heads and General Scheme.  The legislation will underpin the changes already underway in relation to organisational and accountability arrangements.   It is an important step in establishing Ireland as a model among developed countries in terms of children’s well-being and development.