Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The most vulnerable children are those living with families experiencing difficulties. These include families where parents have drug or alcohol problems, or suffer mental ill-health. Children who live in homes where they are exposed to domestic violence are also at risk. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, deals immediately with emergency cases, where, for example, a child has been abandoned or is in immediate physical danger or at immediate risk of sexual abuse.

The Children First national guidance gives advice for notifying Tusla of situations where abuse is suspected. A range of professionals, including teachers, nurses, early years educators, gardaí and other health professionals who see children regularly, are in a good position to identify children at risk. Where someone has reasonable grounds for suspecting a child is being, or has been, abused, they are expected to immediately contact Tusla. The Children First Act 2015, once it is fully commenced, will place a statutory obligation on key professionals, or mandated persons, to report concerns of harm above a defined threshold to Tusla without delay. It is my intention that these provisions will be commenced by the end of 2017.

Each referral received by Tusla is assessed and dealt with on an individual basis by the relevant social work team. Preliminary screening and initial assessments of concerns are undertaken to decide the best course of action for the child and his or her family. Over half of all referrals received by Tusla relate to welfare concerns and its policy is to refer these to the relevant family and community support services. If it seems that the problem relates to abuse of the child, the child protection pathway is followed.

At the end of June 2016, a total of 13,983 child welfare concerns and 9,587 child protection concerns had been received by Tusla since the beginning of the year.

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