Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Unfortunately, she cannot be here this afternoon but she did attend the committee this morning.

Yesterday saw the publication by the Minister of the report of the independent child death review group. The report, prepared by Dr. Geoffrey Shannon and Norah Gibbons, gives details of the 196 children who died between 2000 and 2010, both of natural and unnatural causes. The children in the report include children who were in the care of the State at the time of their death, young adults who were in aftercare and other children who were not in care but were known to the HSE. The report contains details of the 112 children who died of unnatural causes. Of these children, 17 were in care, 27 were in receipt of aftercare and 68 were not in care but were in some way known to the HSE child and family services.

In the first instance I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the families of all the children and young adults who are the subject of this report. The report highlights system failings in the Irish child protection services, including poor risk assessment, poor co-ordination between services, poor flows of information, limited access to specialist assessment and therapeutic services, as well as limited inter-agency work for children and families with complex needs. The report further highlights a lack of early intervention and family support services responding proportionately to the needs of children at risk and families in crisis. I have no doubt that if the system had done a better job, outcomes for some of these children might well have been very different.

It should be noted, however, that the report also comments on evidence of good practice, the wide range of services made available and the efforts made to intervene and build relationships to address the underlying vulnerabilities of the children by the HSE. There are sufficient examples of excellent, compassionate practice for us to determine realistically that what is required is a system which supports and expects such good practice as standard.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has welcomed the findings and recommendations of this report and accepts fully the need for action in the areas identified. At this morning's joint committee meeting, the Minister confirmed that she will be putting in place an implementation programme with regular reports to the Government. However, before publication of the report, action was already underway in a number of areas identified in it. The Minister will be making an announcement in September on the further development of an independent child death review structure, following consultation with some of the key bodies and experts involved. Next month will see the publication of the new HIQA national standards for the protection and welfare of children which will set out a new standards-based approach to the delivery of an effective and accountable child protection service. Later this year, the Government will bring forward a proposed constitutional amendment to strengthen child protection further and give constitutional recognition to the best interests of the child.

A key element of the ongoing reform programme is the removal of child welfare and protection services from the HSE and the establishment of a new child and family support agency. The task force, established by the Minister to advise on the new agency, will present its final report by the end of this month and the agency, led by CEO designate Gordon Jeyes, will be established and up and running in January 2013. The Minister will work with the new agency and the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, on the provision of a seamless interface between child protection services and child and adolescent mental health services. The Minister is also working with the Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall, and the HSE on developing a fresh approach to identifying and addressing the hidden harm posed by substance misuse. This is an area highlighted in a number of cases contained in the report.

The provision of nationwide 24-hour social work assistance is being worked on in the context of the establishment of the new agency.

The Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, is consulting the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Courts Service on the preparation of new regulations regarding the in camera rule - to which the Deputy referred - to allow access to child welfare and protection hearings. Yesterday, the Minister also announced the preparation of legislation to provide clarity around the issue of after-care provision to build on an improving picture of service provision in this area in recent years.

The report of the independent review group makes for stark and uncomfortable reading. I hope it is clear that this Government is committed to transparency and honesty regarding the challenges in getting children's services right. Child protection remains a high priority on our agenda and changes at every level, including those relating to policy, law, structures and individual practitioners, will continue to be made and these will make a difference for the future.

See this speech in context