Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth | Adequate support exists for all children insofar as is possible who might be subjected to a threat from any quarter

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Children; Equality; Disability; Integration and Youth if he is satisfied that adequate support exists for all children insofar as is possible who might be subjected to a threat from any quarter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

As the Deputy is aware, statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla and An Garda Síochána are the two agencies in the state with statutory responsibility for assessing (Tusla) and investigating (An Garda Síochána) allegations of child abuse and promoting the safety and welfare of children.

Both Tusla and An Garda Síochána carry out their responsibilities under a suite of child protection legislation including the Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012, the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016 and the Children First Act 2015.

The Children First Act, which was fully commenced in December 2017, provides for a number of key child protection measures, including improving child protection arrangements in organisations providing services to children and placing a legal obligation on certain categories of people to report child protection concerns at or above a defined threshold to Tusla.

Tusla has statutory responsibility to assess all reports of child protection concerns and take the necessary action to protect children. If Tusla suspects that a crime has been committed, it will formally notify the Gardaí without delay.
 
In 2021 Tusla implemented its Child Exploitation Procedure in partnership with An Garda Síochána, which provides Tusla staff and carers with information on how to recognise indicators of child sexual exploitation, how to make appropriate referrals and how to respond to cases where children may be at risk of sexual exploitation.
 
Tusla has had a Principal Social Worker seconded to the Garda National Protective Service Bureau for a number of years. Their role is to provide social work specialist support to the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB), including child protection related knowledge and expertise. The role includes supporting GNPSB around notifications received related to children in care and also in the community, including around issues of notifications of Child sexual exploitation.
 
The Joint Working Protocol between Tusla and An Garda Síochána forms a critical part of the response to child abuse and neglect, and particularly in relation to child sexual exploitation. There are regular meetings by Tusla local area and also by Tusla’s national children’s residential service with An Garda Síochana in respect of child sexual exploitation referrals.  The Joint Protocol is currently being reviewed and updated.

There are many child welfare and protection measures in place to help protect children and young people and there is ongoing collaboration between my Department, Tusla and An Garda Síochána including reviews and updating of relevant procedures and protocols.