The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Ms. Frances Fitzgerald, T.D., today highlighted the progress being made in establishing a new Children and Family Support Agency, as committed to in the Programme for Government.
The Minister said that the new Agency is at the heart of the Government’s reform of child and family services. “The establishment of a single agency incorporating key children’s services will provide a focus for the major reforms already underway”. This Reform Programme contains a number of critical elements:-
· The continued and urgent implementation of a comprehensive change programme to improve the quality and consistency of child welfare and protection services;
· The introduction of legislation to place Children’s First (National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children) on a statutory basis;
· The establishment for the first time of a dedicated budget for children and family services, providing transparency and accountability for the use of resources to meet national priorities;
· The development of legislation to be brought before the Oireachtas later this year to provide for the operation of the new Agency from early 2013;
· The transition of existing HSE child protection and welfare and services into the new Agency;
· The merger of the existing Family Support Agency (Budget of over €26 million) into the Child and Family Support Agency on the latter’s establishment; and
· Consideration of the potential for further rationalisation of services for children under the new Agency.
The Minister highlighted the comprehensive change programme currently being implemented under the leadership of Gordon Jeyes, as National Director of Child and Family Services. This programme is addressing the quality and consistency of child welfare and protection services. This change process will continue into the new Child and Family Support Agency where Gordon Jeyes will be the first Chief Executive. The Minister said “a clear service model that focuses on providing a safe and high quality child protection service which is consistent with statutory obligations will be core to the new Agency. Gordon Jeyes has a strong mandate to develop and operate this service model both now and once the new Agency is formally established.”
The Minister noted that enhanced accountability is an important feature of the reforms. There will be one agency responsible for children’s services reporting to a dedicated Department of Children and Youth Affairs led by Ireland’s first senior Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. This greater transparency is already evident in the provision for the first time of a dedicated budget of €550 million for Children and Family Services in 2012. This will bring greater transparency and control to budgetary management and pave the way for the establishment of the new Agency in 2013.
The Minister referred to the work of the Taskforce on the Establishment of the new Agency which she appointed in September, 2011. Already, the Taskforce has undertaken a considerable body of work in preparation for the new Agency. She said “In the coming weeks I expect to receive the advice of the Task Force on the vision, governance and scope of services for the new Agency. These recommendations will be an important input into the development of detailed legislation to provide for the Agency.”
Finally, the Minister referred to the recruitment of the senior team for the new Agency. A number of key posts will be advertised on the open market in the coming days. The Minister said "It is important that children's services are led by those of the highest calibre. I hope that the recruitment process delivers a very strong team to join with Gordon in leading the improvement of children's services".
Mr. Jeyes said “I am greatly looking forward to offering leadership to the first agency in Ireland solely dedicated to the welfare of children. We cannot do it alone but I am clear this is a once in a generation opportunity for everyone in Ireland to demonstrate their commitment to putting children first”.
In conclusion, the Minister said “My Department, Gordon and his team and the Taskforce on the Establishment of the new Agency are working together under an integrated project plan to manage the transition to new organisational arrangements for children's services next year. The preparations underway are designed to allow the Child and Family Support Agency to assume full statutory responsibility for services for children and families early in 2013.”