Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on her engagement with Tusla following the report of a missing child in Donabate, Dublin, to date in 2025; the steps Tusla is now taking, and the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49873/25]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Things have moved on since I submitted this question and we now know that child was Daniel Aruebose. I take this opportunity to offer my sympathies to everybody who loved him, especially the foster carers who looked after him.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I appreciate, and we all respect, that the Garda investigation is under way and the force has to be allowed do its work. It is important to acknowledge those gardaí as well. It was a very difficult search, especially finding the remains.

I have a couple of questions. I welcome that the closed cases will be examined, starting with those closed during Covid. For any social worker, like any of us in any job we do, cases may be closed and later on things may happen and unless they are brought to the attention of Tusla, nobody may know, so that is important. On that measure, I ask that, after these well-being checks are done, the mechanism of a look-back period of six months to a year after a case is closed would be built more permanently into Tusla and the work it does. I appreciate it is a lot of work and the agency is getting a lot of referrals but a look-back mechanism should be built in so a child would be checked on maybe six months to a year after a case is closed. Is that something the Minister would be willing to look at?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Again, I acknowledge this is a significant step forward in terms of cases that were closed during the lockdowns caused by Covid. It is important to say there are many reasons for a case being closed. Oftentimes, we regard that as a real positive and then on other occasions a case can open again. It is important also to say many of these cases may well be to do with child welfare as distinct from child protection issues, and we need to be cognisant of that. This will be a very worthwhile well-being check.

I referenced it earlier, but tomorrow I will be chairing a meeting of the children first interdepartmental group. That includes Departments that have various engagements with children at different times. We will be specifically seeking methods and means to ensure we can identify ways of enhancing check-ins on young children right across the system on an ongoing basis.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I take it from that reply that perhaps this will be done in future by Tusla, and of course there is a role for other organisations.

On one other point, there appears to be a gap for preschool-age children. When a child is born, there may be a number of visits by the public health nurse to the home. After that, depending on whether the child goes into formal childcare, there really is no check that exists, and that is of concern. The Minister has cited ECCE data and maybe looking at that. That is something that should be considered. Unless a child is in a formal setting, who is there to check or to know? That gap is of concern.

I welcome, of course, the review of closed cases. A lot of them are advice, like parenting advice, and they will be straightforward, but that job of work is important. A look-back period built in is important and that gap should be followed through on, perhaps using ECCE data.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Deputy and appreciate her engagement on this matter. I think we are all ad idem in our determination that we need to move proactively where we find any gaps in information or support. The Deputy is correct. I have identified the issue with ECCE. ECCE, the early childcare provision, has been hugely successful. It is two years of free preschool care, if you like. We have almost a 97% uptake of that, so it is an ideal opportunity to harness that information and put it to very positive use. We are currently looking at the manner and means of doing that.

Obviously, there are other Departments involved. The Deputy referenced public health checks for children as well as the Department of Social Protection because of the financial supports that are provided or whatever the case might be. That is one of the key reasons I am chairing this interdepartmental group to see how we can best harness the information that sometimes exists almost in silos. We need to have more joined-up thinking in relation to it.

I thank the Deputy for her personal engagement and support on it also.