Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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26. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she remains satisfied that adequate protection is in place to ensure early reporting and prompt action in cases of suspected child abuse, whether in State institutions, foster care or in the home; the number of outstanding cases awaiting attention; the average timescale for investigating such issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33514/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, holds the statutory responsibility for child welfare and protection. It is the appropriate body to receive reports relating to children at risk, whether in State institutions, foster care or in the home. Tusla provides the Department of Children and Youth Affairs with regular detailed reports on key performance and activity indicators relating to referrals and management of child abuse. I assure the Deputy that Tusla deals immediately with emergency cases, including, for instance, if a child has been abandoned or is in immediate physical danger or at risk of sexual abuse.

Each referral received by the agency is assessed and dealt with on an individual basis by the duty social work team. At the end of the first quarter of 2016, Tusla reported approximately 60% of the referrals received were of a child welfare concern. The remaining related to child protection concerns where the concern was of abuse, including neglect. Tusla refers child welfare concerns to the relevant family and community support services. At any stage, if circumstances change or new information comes to light and there is concern about abuse, including neglect, the child protection pathway is followed.

At the end of August 2016, the number of cases awaiting allocation to a social worker stood at 4,727, a 30% decrease since December 2015. The number of high-priority cases awaiting allocation was 639, a 36% decrease on December 2015. Of the 639 high-priority cases awaiting allocation, 267 were waiting less than a month, 190 between one to three months, and 182 more than three months.

The Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, inspects Tusla child welfare and protection services, statutory children's residential care centres and foster care services while Tusla inspects children's residential centres run by the private and voluntary sectors. My officials pay close attention to the findings of these inspections, follow up with Tusla and report to me on progress made.

The additional funding of €37 million which has been secured for Tusla in 2017 will provide increased resources to meet identified risks and service demands.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for her comprehensive reply. How satisfied is she with the speed with which the follow-up takes place in all circumstances? How satisfied is she with waiting lists and, where reporting has taken place, of the remedial actions that have taken place? Is she aware of any need for improvements in those areas?

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I indicated the percentages of decreases in the number of unallocated cases. Since 2014, a plan has been in place to ensure the processes will continue to be reduced. This is the second year of a three-year initiative to tackle the issue of child protection cases, such as, for example, awaiting an allocation to a social worker. In each case, the percentages are going down according to the plan.

Obviously, this requires additional resources. I get regular reports on the speed with which this is happening. From my monitoring of it to date, it appears it is continuing to meet its target. It will need at least another year to ensure it is properly done, however.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Is the Minister satisfied that adequate provision is now being made to ensure the minimum delays occur after a reporting of a case? Is she satisfied that there is a reporting system which will conclusively indicate that remedial action and preventive measures have been taken to safeguard the welfare of the child?

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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If there are serious concerns of abuse, neglect, etc., the children in question are dealt with immediately and taken away from the situation. Although they may not have an allocated social worker, that does not mean they are not being seen. There are various social work teams monitoring to the extent required. From the initial assessment, they will monitor the child's priorities and needs until the child receives an allocated social worker. I have confidence in that but, obviously, the sooner the child gets an allocated social worker, the better.