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

Given the Deputy's phrasing of the question, I would answer "Yes".

The specific role of Tusla is to promote the welfare of children who are at risk of not receiving adequate care and protection, as the Deputy will be aware. Some 40% of the referrals relate to child sexual abuse concerns. An Garda Síochána will deal with any criminal aspects of that sexual offence against a child under the relevant criminal justice legislation. One of the important elements in ensuring all this works in the way that the Deputy is requesting is joint working between Tusla and an Garda Síochána. It forms an integral part of child protection and welfare. We have a number of meetings, as set out in Children First, that form an important link in an investigation by An Garda Síochána of a potential crime. I established an interdepartmental group in 2018, which is currently working to develop a service for child victims of sexual abuse that will bring together social work policing and health services in one site. This provides a solid and good example of the way to work in the future to support the ongoing work between those two agencies. I am satisfied regarding those concerns at a systems and individual level

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