John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to offer the apologies of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, who is with President Higgins on official business in the United States this week and could not be in the House. I did not get to see the programme Deputy Rabbitte mentioned in real time, but I watched part of it later and read the horrific story in graphic detail in various newspapers. I share the sentiments of the Taoiseach that crimes against children are particularly heinous, and sexual crimes against vulnerable children deserve a special level of disgust. I believe those sentiments are shared by the House and by everyone who knows the facts of this story. As the Deputy may appreciate, I am not in a position to respond as directly and fully as the Minister to some of her questions, but I will relate the issues raised both to the Minister's officials and to the Minister herself upon her return.

The Government and its agencies are determined that the handling of this case and other serious cases will help inform future policy, safeguards and protections for children. When an allegation of abuse is made, action is taken to protect any child or children who may be at risk. In terms of this particular case, abuse was first revealed in 2007. The HSE found the allegations to be credible and took actions to protect the children at that time. An assessment was carried out and no new placements were made with the family after the disclosure. Following the allegations the son of the foster family left the home and a safety plan was agreed with the family.

There were two children in long-term foster placements, one of who was there from a very early age, as Deputy Rabbitte outlined. They did not disclose any abuse at that time. In 2011, one of the children disclosed abuse that occurred before 2007, and a decision was made to remove the children then. There was no disclosure of abuse happening after 2007, which was after a safety plan was agreed with the parents and the abuser was no longer living with the family. A Garda investigation took place in 2007, but there was no prosecution on the direction of the DPP on that occasion. Later, in 2011, there was an investigation which lead to the prosecution of the abuser. This resulted in a conviction in 2017 and the sentencing of the abuser this month.

In April 2016 the case was referred to the expert national review panel, NRP, and that review is nearing completion. The review is expected to look at the professional decision making in 2007. The NRP panel is appointed independently. It reviews deaths and serious incidents affecting children in care or who are known to child protection services. The NRP was set up in response to the recommendations of the Ryan commission. Tusla plays no role in carrying out the NRP reviews. We await the outcome of the review and the opportunity to consider all of the findings and recommendations.

It is important to acknowledge that foster carers undergo a rigorous assessment process. Approval takes several months of intense work. All general foster carers are fully vetted, assessed and approved before a child is placed with them. Most foster care placements will have a link social worker and the child will have his or her own social worker who he or she can confide in. Across Ireland thousands of people open their homes and lives to children in need and provide love and care. We must not lose sight of that in the midst of this terrible case. HIQA inspections have shown that there are areas of foster care services that must be improved. Tusla has responded positively with actions and ongoing national reforms addressing the key issues.

The Minister, Deputy Zappone, received correspondence yesterday from the solicitor of one of the women who as a child was sexually abused in that foster home. The correspondence related to an inquiry, and will be actively considered by the Minister, Deputy Zappone, when she returns from the United States as a way to get to the facts of this case and to learn lessons to ensure that it will not happen again, and also to discover whether there was any negligence involved.

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