Dáil debates

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

5:05 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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45. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps her Department has taken or proposes to take to identify and provide the necessary back-up for children at risk, whether from physical or mental abuse, neglect or other failure; if she is satisfied that the existing structures are efficient to meet the challenges of the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7032/17]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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This question relates to the extent to which the Minister can investigate, identify and support children deemed to be at risk or likely to become at risk through various means, whether they be mental, physical or otherwise.

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I assure the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, deals immediately with emergency cases, including for instance if a child has been abandoned or is in immediate physical danger or at immediate risk of sexual abuse. Social work duty teams keep high-priority cases under review by regularly checking to ascertain risk to the child and where necessary will reprioritise the case.

Tusla holds the statutory responsibility for child welfare and protection and is the appropriate body to receive reports of concerns relating to children at risk. Each referral received by the agency is assessed and dealt with on an individual basis by the relevant social work team. Every report of concern for the safety and well-being of a child is assessed and required action is identified.

I am committed to commencing the Children First Act 2015, which is due to be commenced by the end of the year. As the Deputy will be aware, the Children First Act 2015 will see mandatory reporting by key professionals, mandated assisting, comprehensive risk assessment and preparation of child safeguarding statements by services for children, and the establishment of the Children First interdepartmental implementation group on a statutory basis. Tusla is developing online training for mandatory reporters. Children First guidelines will continue in parallel with the Act. This sets out the roles and responsibilities for all citizens to report child welfare and protection issues to Tusla and, where criminal matters are involved, the Garda.

I believe we have made significant progress in our structures and practices for child protection. The Children First Act 2015 is of particular significance but I see it as part of a suite of child protection legislation that includes the Acts relating to the National Vetting Bureau and the withholding of information on offences against children and vulnerable persons.

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There is no room for complacency about our safeguarding measures and we will constantly review them to ensure they are effective.

Tusla works closely with other care providers, including the HSE, in respect of access to primary care services, child and adolescent mental health services, disability and other services. Tusla and the HSE monitor their interagency relationship to ensure they are working effectively in the best interests of children and families.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To what extent does the system operates in respect of children admitted to emergency departments with suspected self-harm or otherwise hospitalised? Is there a system whereby an investigative team can identify particular households and ascertain the causes for a child being referred in these ways? In a reply to a previous question, I was told that, in the space of one and a half or two years, 300 children aged between ten and 14 were referred to emergency departments having self-harmed. What is the underlying cause? How can the system deal with it? I applaud child care workers for doing what is a very responsible job. It is a difficult job and the public can often be very critical. I am concerned about adequate resources being available and that they can be deployed as necessary.

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla is responsible for children who need protection and need to be entered into care. The implementation of the Children First guidelines will be the basis on which concerns about children self-harming can be addressed. There will be training and manuals for persons working with children, across departments and in different settings, and these will assist people in dealing with such matters.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Is there a particular system whereby emergency staff can be deployed to deal with cases of children presenting at emergency departments showing evidence of self-harm? There have been repeat situations with tragic consequences so how can we achieve a speedy response and pursue each case personally, leaving no stone unturned and nothing in doubt?

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Interagency co-operation is key, involving HSE, hospitals and Tusla and the Department. The interdepartmental working group is looking at this and ensuring that protocols of interagency co-operation are developed.

In this way, any child who is in harm's way, whether because of self-harm or any child care or protection issues, will be dealt with appropriately and not left to chance, or dealt with inappropriately because of a lack of interagency co-operation.