Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the lessons that need to be learned by State agencies following the death of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44218/14]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I offer my deepest sympathy to the family and those who are bereaved by the horrific and tragic death of Hassan Khan, and I wish to ask the Minister his views on the lessons that must be learned by State agencies following the child's death.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I join with Deputy Troy in offering my sympathies to the family. I was as shocked as everyone else in the country to hear of the tragic and senseless death of such a young child - a child who had his whole life ahead of him. Sadly, it is a tragic fact of life that children die, and sometimes die at the hand of someone they know - a trusted adult, sometimes even a parent or guardian. We must do everything we can to understand and learn from tragedies such as this. It is incumbent upon us in the House to do everything in our power to make sure that every resource available to the State is used to prevent such tragedies in the future. It is only by learning from tragic events such as this one that we can help those people charged by the State to work with children to keep them safe.

When there is a fatality of a child in the care of the State or one who has been seen by social work services - or indeed, when something happens that could have resulted in a fatality - the case is referred to the National Review Panel, which was established in 2010 specifically for the purpose raised by the Deputy, namely, to identify lessons that need to be learned by State agencies following a child’s death. The panel is chaired by Dr. Helen Buckley of Trinity College Dublin, who is an expert on these matters. The review focuses primarily on services provided to the child and family and establishes whether they were effective and compliant with guidance and procedures.

The case is also the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation, and we do not yet know the full facts. Nor do we know the outcome of the work of the National Review Panel. It would not be proper or prudent to speculate until we know all the facts. Like everyone else, I am eager to hear the panel's conclusions, but it needs time to do its work and that must be unhindered by our desire for answers. I wish to reassure the House that the panel works independently of the Child and Family Agency, and any other State agency, and has neither fear nor favour in coming to its conclusions. The Deputy can rest assured that the panel will advise the agency in order that it can start working on recommendations as they become available, even before the report is published. The report is unlikely to be available to us before the outcome of the criminal investigation.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister is correct that the case in question is extremely sensitive and we must be very careful in what we say. A young life, unlived, was lost in appalling circumstances. It is a requirement under section 3 of the Child Care Act that the Child and Family Agency must intervene when it suspects a child is at risk. By virtue of this child's having been subject to a Garda rescue alert on 10 August, he was identified as being at risk. Last week the Minister confirmed to a committee of the House that a social worker had been allocated to the case. The Child and Family Agency is a new organisation and it is important that things are done correctly. We are aware of the pressures under which social workers operate because of depleted numbers. Given his responsibility for the new agency, is the Minister satisfied that the agency has discharged its responsibilities? Is he also satisfied that adequate supports were put in place to support the family and that appropriate measures were taken after the family came to the attention of the agency following the Garda alert?

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I preface my answer by making it clear that I wish to be very careful that neither I or anyone else says anything in the House that might cause further distress or hurt to the family of this young child. I pointed out in my response that a criminal investigation by the Garda is ongoing and the report that would help us in terms of answering the Deputy's questions is unlikely to be available until the investigation has concluded. It is important to note that the young child had an allocated social worker and that the new agency, which was founded only this year, is working very hard towards meeting all its obligations.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Minister that we must be extremely sensitive in what we say, but the fact of the matter is that a young life was lost - a young life that was known to the agency charged by the State with responsibility for the protection of vulnerable children. We require answers for the family concerned in the case outlined, and for the wider public, who want to have faith and confidence in the new agency, to ensure the appropriate levels of intervention and support are provided to vulnerable children. Following his inquiries, is the Minister satisfied that the appropriate levels of support were available to the family in question?

The Minister referred to the independent review group, which I welcome, but essentially, that is an internal audit mechanism within the Child and Family Agency. Does the Minister know when the report will be completed and when we will be able to discuss its findings?

If there are adverse findings in respect of the workings of State agencies, will the Minister open this case to a full independent inquiry?

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I reiterate that in 2010 the national review panel was established on a permanent basis to review serious incidents and the deaths of children in care in order to identify any area for improvement. The panel is chaired by Dr. Helen Buckley and independent in carrying out its functions. All cases involving death or a serious incident involving children in care, after care or known to the child protection services are reviewed by the panel in keeping with the guidance of the Health Information and Quality Authority. Therefore, reviews relate to a significantly broader range of children than those in care. It is also important to review the deaths of young adults previously in care and those of children known to the child protection services, even if they had not actually been in care, as all such deaths are tragic and can potentially lead to the improvement of services and the prevention of such tragic deaths in the future.