Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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I thank the Chairman and also thank the Minister for coming here today. We would all like to see this referendum pass but the biggest doubt for members of the public is whether they can have confidence in the child protection services and in the reform that is taking place. I have asked previously for a more localised breakdown of the figures on the numbers of child protection cases as well as on the numbers of staff and vacancies in social services. That detail cannot be provided to me as the information is only available on a regional basis. It is not acceptable, in the context of, for example, the damning report relating to the infamous Roscommon case, that I cannot tell people in Roscommon how many social work staff are employed in the county, how many vacancies exist or how many cases are on the books of Roscommon social services. Those are basic data that should be available to me, as a public representative, and to the wider community. This must be addressed.

One of the recommendations relating to the Roscommon case was that an audit be carried out in County Roscommon regarding cases of serious neglect. When that audit was completed, more than 18 months ago, the national director said the HSE would publish a redacted version of it. Since then, the story has changed consistently over time. First, the audit was to published in a redacted form, then in an executive summary. We are now being promised a composite of the audits of Roscommon and two other areas. The last time the Minister came before this committee we were told publication of that report was imminent. Here we are again. The report is still imminent. When will the composite report be published? What is the delay in publishing it? Why is the Roscommon audit not being published? That audit identified the fact that one in four of the neglect cases in County Roscommon were deemed to be at risk, and that was a mere snapshot of 30 cases. There is continuing concern about the operation of services in County Roscommon but the people who are concerned about the audit have sought its publication without success.