Child Policy and Tusla Governance Division

Child Policy and Tusla Governance Division is responsible for operational standards and performance; policy and legislative developments relating to child welfare and protection; alternative care; and related issues of children's rights.

It also has responsibility for department oversight of Tusla governance and performance, and support, including cross-government assistance, for the development of programmes within Tusla. The latter work encompasses parenting support, early intervention programmes and educational welfare.

The Division also has responsibility for the cross-government co-ordination of policy direction and activity relating to parenting support.

It has responsibility for leading cross-government working in respect of children’s services through oversight of the implementation of Better Outcomes Brighter Futures; the Area Based Childhood Programme (ABC) and the development of the Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSCs) interagency structures.

It leads a number of other cross-departmental initiatives.

Overall management of each Division shall comprise:

• managing the business generally of the Division
• managing and monitoring the overall performance of the Division
• providing policy advice to the Secretary General, MB, Minister or the government, as appropriate
• ensuring the implementation of Government policies appropriate to the Division
• monitoring Government policies, appropriate to the Division, which affect the department
• ensuring delivery (within the limits of resources provided) of the outputs determined by the Minister and the Secretary General
• managing the Division’s work in implementing the relevant elements of the Statement of Strategy and overseeing the provision of progress reports to the MB, the Secretary General and the Minister thereon
• providing policy advice to the Secretary General and the Minister on all matters within the remit of the department which are appropriate to the Division
• ensuring the effective management of risk within the Division
• ensuring the proper use of Division resources, including effective financial management, and the provision of cost-effective public services appropriate to the Division
• overseeing the assignment of specific responsibilities to individual officers or groups or grades of officer within the Division
• managing matters relating to the appointment, performance and discipline of staff
• ensuring the appropriate co-ordination of the Division’s activities with those of other Divisions