Dr. Niall Muldoon:

It is an obligation on our part in any case to consider hearing the voice of the child in every complaint we have. Even though approximately 75% of all complaints come from parents, we will always consider whether it is appropriate to ask the child. If the child is aged under two or three years, it probably would not be appropriate to do so but after that age, we will probably link in with the parents and ask whether it would be appropriate to speak to the child. We have consistently done this with many teenagers and even younger children. Where it is appropriate, we will speak to the child and obtain his or her point of view on a matter.

A figure of between 2% and 4% is the norm internationally. We are the complainant of last resort so in theory one is asking a great deal of a child to come forward. We may be the fourth instance to be contacted for making a complaint. The children who contact us tend to be articulate and well-informed young people who are in care. Their colleagues will have told them that this is the approach to take or EPIC - Empowering People in Care - who are the key workers who support people in care will have told them this is how to do it. They tend to be aged 15, 16 or 17 years and they telephone us directly. Thinking of my own children, I would be delighted if they had the strength to come forward, having made two complaints previously, and make a further complaint to the Ombudsman for Children. It is a big ask, however. As I stated, the percentage of the contacts we receive that are made by children is not far from the norm internationally.

The Deputy referred to child rights impact assessments and digital media. I will return to that issue.

I was also asked about Tusla's 24-7 resource. While the service Tusla is offering is inadequate, it is a start and I will engage with the agency and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to ensure a real service is available for people who have reached a certain stage. As the Deputy stated, what is often needed is access to a garda who can telephone a social worker who will then try to work something out. This is not exactly what a child needs on a Saturday night when his or her mental health is poor, he or she is feeling low, his or her parents are fighting or he or she needs somewhere safe and secure to go. This issue has been on the cards for ten years and we can predict that we will need it. We will not need very large numbers of staff but it is an issue we need to work on and we will certainly push it forward.

I hope my answers on direct provision were satisfactory. Dr. McAuley will address the issue of child rights impacts.