Dr. Geoffrey Shannon:

I will start with the last question. It seems to be a trend. The question of how this can be realised is particularly important. An Garda Síochána confirmed to me on Friday last week that it will be implementing without delay all of the recommendations in the report, and a key part of these is co-location. The way that will operate at a practical level involves specialist child protection units being established. There will be a social worker with a member of An Garda Síochána. We will have joint decision making.

That is why I was trying to make that link and reduce the reliance on the national out-of-hours service. We will be building up expertise where it is needed, that is to say, in the local Garda station. The vision is that 28 social workers would be assigned to the various units.

Senator Devine asked what I would like to see in terms of practical recommendations. I would like to see from members of An Garda Síochána and Tusla a joint plan, perhaps presented to this committee, on how it is envisaged that this proposal will be rolled out along with the timeline. What I have seen in respect of the four specialist child protection units has been impressive in terms of far greater cohesion between An Garda Síochána and Tusla. We build up a relationship of trust when we work with people on a daily basis - no one needs a high-level degree to understand that. Sometimes the simple solutions are the most effective solutions.

The one key recommendation in this report is the recommendation around the need for co-location and the need for it to happen as soon as possible. Senator Devine is absolutely right: we need to make it real. We need a roadmap for how and when this is going to happen. Otherwise, we could be back here next year. That is why I hope it was not inappropriate for me to suggest that we review this a year from now. I have considerable experience of reports and I have been central to the drafting of many reports where many of the recommendations remain un-implemented. I hope this report will be one of the first reports in respect of which there will be a speedy implementation plan. My key recommendation at the end of the report was that, one year from the date of publication, An Garda Síochána would publically demonstrate the efforts undertaken to implement the recommendations.

I share the view of Senator Devine on mental health issues. In my view the State has a mandatory obligation to protect children and ensure children who are in need of services receive those services. A key part of that is the mental health issue. There is a natural alignment between the presentation this morning and my presentation, because many of the issues to emerge in the audit revolve around children with mental health issues and how, if those issues go undiagnosed, they can have far-reaching consequences.

The final issue raised related to alcohol. That is a key issue. In fact, it is the stand-out issue from this report. Everywhere we turn in this report alcohol features. This is a national crisis. Committee members should be in no doubt that it needs urgent Government response. However, it is not only a question of an urgent Government response; there are far broader societal issues.

There are several key recommendations. I met officials from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and I warmly welcome the commitment of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone. Undoubtedly, she is a committed Minister. There is an implementation plan in this report and the fact that she has come out so quickly with an implementation plan is impressive. I notice that as part of the implementation plan the report is to be sent to the Minister for Health. This is a key part of it. I am conscious of the fine work done by Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy in the area and I wish to acknowledge it. However, we cannot afford any further delay.

I have asked for an additional feature when Tusla undertakes a risk assessment. If a parent is persistently abusing alcohol, that should be a risk indicator. Some of the examples in chapter 3 will horrify committee members. I still have memories of tracking these cases on the PULSE system. It beggars belief how some of these children are treated. This demands not only a Government response but a societal response.