Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 7: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the discussions she has had with other Government Departments regarding the establishment of the missing children's hotline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32480/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has established the project group on the missing children hotline yet; the position regarding their work; and the date on which they will conclude their work. [32505/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 34 together.

Under EU telecoms rules agreed in 2009, the 116000 number is reserved in all EU member states for a missing children hotline. In a debate on this issue in Seanad Éireann on 12 October last I gave a commitment to work with relevant Departments and agencies to establish the hotline in Ireland in 2012. I also announced my intention to establish a cross-sectoral project team to include representatives of my Department, the Department of Justice and Equality, ComReg and the Garda Síochána. The final nominee to the project team is expected shortly and the team will then be in a position to commence its work.

This team will examine how best to operate the hotline in the context of the demand for the service and establish the extent to which services, including Garda and victim support services, which are in existence and receive Government funding, can be mobilised to meet Ireland's commitments regarding the hotline. In seeking to make progress on this issue, my Department has had discussions with the Departments of Justice and Equality and Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, as well as ComReg. Further discussions will be held in the context of the meetings of the project team.

I emphasise that the investigation of a child's disappearance is the responsibility of the Garda. Its structures in this regard include not only the local gardaí, who will have primary responsibility for the investigation, but also the missing persons bureau. It is of paramount importance that any arrangements which are put in place to establish the 116000 hotline do not compromise the requirement that the first and most important contact to be made is to notify the Garda of the fact that a child is missing in order that an investigation can commence without delay. The implementation of a dedicated missing children hotline is intended to provide a further level of support in such circumstances.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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The missing children hotline is operational in 15 European Union member states and the European Commission is considering the possibility of introducing sanctions against member states which have not yet introduced the service. In Belgium the system was first run by a local group, Child Focus, which received 50% state funding and 50% private funding as well as further Government assistance towards establishing the service. Part of the problem with the ComReg advertisements is that no one has been in a position to come forward and operate the hotline here. What plans does the Minister have to provide assistance, if required, to get the hotline operational? Is it her intention to take primary responsibility for ensuring it becomes operational?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I have done so already by establishing the project team. I want the missing children hotline to be progressed. I am pleased to note that the incidence of children who go missing in Ireland is low and has fallen significantly in recent years. Statistics provided by the Garda Síochána indicate there are five open cases of children who went missing in this country in 2010. While even one missing child is one too many, some achievements have been made in this area and there is certainly much better co-ordination between the Garda and Health Service Executive. All instances of missing children should be reported immediately to the Garda Síochána, which has primary responsibility in this area.

On the issue of resources, these are challenging times financially. Various costings have been done on providing a hotline service, including some calculations made by non-governmental organisations. The figures vary significantly and one of the first tasks I will assign the project group is to investigate the precise potential costs and how they could be met. A variety of sources could be investigated. While the Department will clearly try to provide some support for the establishment of the hotline, we must examine the most economically efficient way to provide the service. We also need to consider what current services, including services provided by the Garda, could accommodate the hotline service. All these matters will be examined.

As I noted, the project team will meet shortly and we have assembled the relevant people with an interest in this area who will be able to make a contribution to establishing the hotline. I want to see progress made on the matter in the coming year.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Minister indicate how soon she expects the project group to have its inaugural meeting? Is she in a position to advise the House of the make-up of the group? Is it cross-departmental in nature and does it include representatives of external non-governmental organisations which have an interest in this area? Given the wide range of best practice and information internationally from which we can draw, I appeal to the Minister to ensure this does not become a foot-dragging exercise. It is crucial that the 116000 number is established in this country. Will the Minister provide a timeframe or deadline within which the project group will complete its work in order that the outcome of its deliberations is available, hopefully in the coming year?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I understand we were waiting for the last person to be appointed to the project group and an appointment was made in recent days. The work will be short-term in nature. I do not envisage it will continue for a long period and expect the project team will pull the relevant information together and make a recommendation within a couple of months. It is then a question of examining costing and ensuring the costs can be met. The group is primarily cross-departmental but also has representatives of ComReg and the Garda. It will consult other organisations.