The Child and Family Agency (Irish: An Ghníomhaireacht um Leanaí agus an Teaghlach[2]), known as Tusla, is an independent Irish agency created by the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 and answerable to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.[3] Its functions were previously distributed among the Health Service Executive's Children & Family Services, the Family Support Agency, and the National Educational Welfare Board.[4] The name Tusla is intended to invoke the Irish words tús (beginning) and lá (day).[4]