By Aoife Connors
Irish Medical Times
July 12, 2011
http://www.imt.ie/news/latest-news/2011/07/referendum-on-childrens-rights-early-in-2012.html
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| Minister Frances Fitzgerald |
By Aoife Connors.
A referendum that will give constitutional protection to children will take place early next year, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald told the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children last week (July 6).
"We will take our time and we will get it right and I hope that early next year when we bring our comprehensive amendment before the people, that we will have the support of all parties," she stated. "The referendum will give Constitutional protection to children, but the Constitution alone will not protect them from the abuse which has been revealed in recent years, abuse which continues to come to light."
Minister Fitzgerald said it was her intention to ensure that every report into this "national shame" was published. "I wish to advise the Committee that in conjunction with my colleague Minister Shatter — and barring any further legal complication — we propose to begin by publishing next week [July 11-15] the Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Diocese of Cloyne.
"I will be publishing new Children First National Guidance very shortly, along with an associated framework prepared by the HSE. I will also be outlining further details with respect to the planned legislation. My Department has made much progress on this in recent weeks and I will be making further detailed announcements very shortly."
Minister Fitzgerald said that as a State and society, we failed in our moral duty to cherish and protect our nation's children. "My role as Minister is to seek that never again will these evils be countenanced."
The Minister was addressing the all-party Oireachtas Committee on the transfer of resources and functions to the new Department of Children and Youth Affairs, which was formally established on June 4 on foot of a Government order.
The Department is being located at Mespil House, an existing government building previously occupied by the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs. The majority of functions that previously were under the remit of the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs have now transferred to newly-reconfigured Departments.
Approximately 85 staff, who previously worked in the office of the Minister for Health and Children, are transferring to Mespil Road. The first and second floors at Hawkins House, which have been vacated by these staff, are currently not in use and the Department told IMT that it has not decided what the space will be used for.
The Government has appointed Jim Breslin as the Department's Secretary General and William Lavelle has been appointed as Special Advisor to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
The functions of the new Department will include: child protection and welfare; children's and youth participation; youth affairs and youth work; early childhood care and education; family support; Irish Youth Justice Service; the National Education Welfare Board; and adoption and fostering.
In relation to the HSE National Service Plan for 2011, the Minister said it contained a set of actions for implementation this year and actions not completed in 2010. However, each action was fully funded and underpinned by approval to recruit the necessary staff. By the end of 2011, the Minister pledged that we would have 260 of the 270 proposed additional social workers recruited.
"Let me emphasise that these are additional posts. Recruitment to back-fill other vacancies is proceeding separately."
She informed the Committee that the HSE, in line with the Ryan Report recommendations, was currently filling 29 posts to deliver assessment and therapeutic services for children in high support and special care units and for children in detention. The posts are a combination of psychology, speech and language, social work and psychiatry positions.
Work is also underway to develop a National Aftercare Service in line with the new National Aftercare Policy developed by the HSE, Minister Fitzgerald added. The work is currently being organised by an 'Aftercare Implementation Group' and 10 additional aftercare worker posts are in the process of being filled.
In line with the programme for government, the Minister will be establishing a new Child & Family Support Agency, separated from the HSE, which will report directly to her Department through its CEO.
Contact: aoife.connors@imt.ie
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