Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 January 2026
244. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the proposed staffing arrangements for the new National Guardian ad Litem Service, by role and grade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4700/26]
View answerThe Department established the Executive Office of the Guardian ad litem National Service in January 2025. Following engagement with DPER, the Department received approval on the pay and resourcing model for the Guardian ad litem National Service in October 2025. This included agreement on the pay scale for a Guardian ad litem- and the recruitment of a legal team for the National Service and the complement of 92 staff for the Service. 65 Guardian Ad Litem’s are to be recruited at Engineer Grade 2. Following the appointment of the Director in January 2025, a Head Guardian ad litem and Head of Corporate Services were also appointed in 2025. A recruitment campaign for Guardians ad litem has just closed and the Public Appointments Service are processing these applications. The Public Appointments Service are also at vetting stages for Head of Legal Services, four regional managers and a Professional Practice Manager. The Department is at the final stages of approval to recruit four solicitors and two senior solicitors of the National Service also. Work is ongoing in the preparation for the onboarding and induction of staff over the coming months.
