Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Hoey for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman. This House has previously been informed that St. John's Ambulance Ireland is an independent organisation. It does not receive funding from Tusla or the Government. As a result, there was no external process by which a review into the organisation could be instigated. St. John's Ambulance Ireland did, however, receive funding relief under Revenue's Covid-19-related scheme that provided support to employees and employers. The funding scheme was put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the employment wage subsidy scheme, St. John's Ambulance Ireland received a funding relief of €240,773 in 2020, and €286,800 in 2021.

A key recommendation of Dr. Geoffrey Shannon's independent review report on the handling of past complaints of abuse in St. John's Ambulance Ireland, which was published on 16 March 2023, was the appointment of a national safeguarding officer by the St. John's Ambulance Ireland organisation. On 4 January 2024, officials from the Department of children met with the commissioner and interim chair of the board of St. John's Ambulance Ireland to discuss the November update regarding the implementation of the recommendations made by Dr. Shannon in his independent review. During the meeting with Department officials, St. John's Ambulance Ireland made the Department aware of the need for financial support in order to fund the post of safeguarding lead, which is one of the recommendations made by Dr. Shannon in his report.

Due to concerns over the delay in making an appointment, the Minister, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, made a commitment to assist with the funding of this critical role. The Department has now finalised a funding mechanism to enable this to happen. This month, the Department of children is making funding available for a safeguarding post in St. John's Ambulance Ireland. This is once-off and non-recurring funding for a total of 12 months. It sets a precedent neither for continued support of St. John's Ambulance Ireland beyond 12 months nor for any other organisation. In these unique circumstances, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman would like to ensure that the Shannon report is implemented in full and without delay.

The Department will monitor and review progress over the 12-month period, with periodic reviews to be agreed between Department officials and St. John's Ambulance Ireland. St. John's Ambulance Ireland will be required to submit a final report on progress on the conclusion of the 12-month period. On 29 April, officials in the Department engaged further with the commissioner of St. John's Ambulance Ireland, and a meeting will be set up in the near future to finalise arrangements for the allocation of funding and the process around the safeguarding post. The terms and conditions of the safeguarding officer will be discussed between the Department and St. John's Ambulance Ireland once the post has been accepted. Ongoing consultation will continue between the Department and the organisation in this regard.

The national safeguarding lead will work with the organisation for an agreed and specified timeframe to ensure that St. John's Ambulance Ireland is fully compliant with the safeguarding regime in operation now following the recommendations set out in the report. The safeguarding officer role will include a full review; an audit of the current safeguarding practices, policies and procedures; and assistance with the ongoing implementation of those policies and procedures. The safeguarding officer role will be essential in ensuring a robust review and oversight in governance of child protection and safeguarding measures now in place in the organisation, which in turn will strengthen the efficacy of the governance regime in St. John's Ambulance Ireland.

Department officials have continued to engage with St. John's Ambulance Ireland on a number of occasions since the publication of Dr. Shannon's report. The engagement with regard to the issues raised in that report will continue, and in particular, in respect of support to survivors of abuse.