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

The Deputy asks a very important question with regard to the robust systems within Tusla. I will answer the question in two parts. The first part relates to the matter of the appropriate handling of child protection concerns and the second part relates to notifications by Tusla to An Garda Síochána.

Up to the end of November 2018 provisional figures from Tusla show that there were almost 53,000 child welfare and protection referrals. The majority of concerns received by Tusla were made to local offices or by mandated reporters through its web portal. Tusla has assured me that all referrals are screened and those appropriate to social work services are subject to a preliminary inquiry. Many referrals require a welfare rather than a child protection response and are referred onto appropriate services. Following an initial assessment, a social work intervention may be required. Tusla has developed a child welfare and protection strategy to deepen and strengthen the screening, preliminary inquiries and initial assessments through increased supports and the roll-out, for the first time, of a national approach to practise. The strategy is called Signs of Safety. The effectiveness of these practices and systems is monitored through independent inspections by HIQA and by Tusla's quality assurance processes. My Department also monitors Tusla performance and progress on improvements against monthly activity returns and oversight of the implementation of recommendations from independent bodies.

Clear procedures are in place for notifying An Garda Síochána but the Deputy will be aware that not every referral will require a notification to the Garda. The Children First joint working protocol between Tusla and An Garda Síochána was published to reflect the provisions in the Children First Act 2015. The protocol covers the respective responsibilities of the agencies in key areas, including notification of suspected abuse. The protocol emphasises that when a social worker suspects that a child has been or is being physically or sexually abused or wilfully neglected, An Garda Síochána must be formally notified without delay and it sets out the notification procedures to be followed. This joint working protocol is in place.

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