Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy very much. I reiterate the comments I have made previously. This is such an upsetting and awful situation and, like the Deputy, I extend my sympathies to all those who knew and loved Daniel and recognise what a great source of upset and heartbreak it is to everybody, from the immediate family to the foster carers and wider society as well.

I thank the Deputy for her question. I again acknowledge it is a matter of deepest concern to me and to the Government. I was saddened when we learned the remains of a young child, presumed to be Daniel Aruebose, had been found in north Dublin. We all recognise the death of a child is heartbreaking and the Government extends our sincere sympathies.

The Department was notified by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, of this case on 1 September, in full accordance with established protocols. Since then, the Department and I have maintained close and ongoing contact with the agency. As the Deputy will be aware, this case is the subject of an active and ongoing investigation by An Garda Síochána. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment on any specific details that could, even inadvertently, prejudice that vital investigation. However, I can inform the Deputy that I have requested the independent national review panel to prioritise a review of this case. This national review panel will examine the nature and extent of any engagement the child and his family had with all relevant State services, including health, social, and educational services. The national review panel has an independent chair and operates with full independence, including its own legal advice, to ensure its findings are objective and factual.

Tusla has also initiated an internal rapid review of its own engagement with the family in this case and I understand Tusla expects to finalise this review in the coming days. In accordance with standard practice, especially given the highly sensitive nature of the personal information involved and the ongoing Garda investigation, internal reviews are not published. However, when the Tusla rapid review is completed, it will be forwarded to the Department and the national review panel. The internal rapid review will assist the national review panel in its work and the Department will be engaging with Tusla on the findings.

Separately and on a broader policy level, I have asked Tusla to conduct a wider well-being check of cases closed to child protection services during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns, specifically where there was no further contact with the child since. This is a proactive measure to provide assurances about the welfare of vulnerable children, strengthen our systems and learn from the unique challenges of that period. I am pleased to confirm, as the Deputy may be aware, that this check will be independently chaired by Ms Tanya Ward. I made that announcement today. Ms Ward is the chief executive of the Children's Rights Alliance. A steering group will also oversee Tusla’s well-being check and the final composition of the steering group will be decided in consultation with the independent chair. The steering group is expected to include representatives from relevant Departments, the HSE, Tusla, the community and voluntary sector, and independent social work professionals. Under the chair’s leadership, the steering group will agree on terms of reference and a robust methodology for Tusla’s well-being check. Tusla will commit all necessary resources to conducting the check in line with those agreed parameters. While the detailed timeline will be shaped by the methodology, I will emphasise the importance of completing this work as soon as practicable, without compromising its thoroughness or integrity.

Tusla's well-being check review is a proactive measure to provide assurance about the welfare of vulnerable children. It will seek to provide that assurance in relation to children whose cases were closed during the pandemic and I am committed to providing all necessary resources to support the work. It is a distinct and separate process from both the national review panel’s investigation and Tusla’s internal rapid review, which are focused specifically on the tragic case in Donabate. Tomorrow, I will also be chairing a meeting of the children first departmental group with the aim of identifying ways of enhancing check-ins on young children across the system.

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