Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is with further horror that I raise the issue of the continued neglect of our children who are suffering at the hands of this State. I raised the issue last week in light of the report of the Ombudsman for Children.Today, I highlight the report by Government rapporteur for child protection, Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, who commented that there was a much greater co-operation needed between An Garda Síochána and Tusla to protect our most vulnerable children. There are reports of cases where children were taken from their homes under the powers of section 12 by gardaí only to be returned later that day by Tusla. We understood after the children's referendum in 2012 that more protection rights and care would be afforded to our children. However, report after report published in recent weeks highlight the gross inadequacies and chronic systems failures within organisations in this State that are charged with the responsibility of looking after our children.

Widespread neglect of children under Tusla's watch is endemic. As we know, Tusla is under-resourced along with other areas of the public service. The Government's failed recruitment policy in Tusla and other areas of the HSE has left many posts unfilled due to the inability to recruit or retain staff. The staff in situ are swamped by huge caseloads and the massively complex nature of the cases they handle. I have great admiration and respect for those social workers working within the limited-resourced Tusla. I also note that the report acknowledges the compassion members of the Garda Síochana had for the children they removed from their parents' care under section 12, whereby many rank and file gardaí stayed long after their rostered hours to ensure the appropriate care was provided for children.

All of us in this House have harrowing stories of shortcomings within the system that present at our clinics. However, Dr. Shannon's report alone gives 91 examples of harrowing cases of the abject failure by this State in the care of our children. I ask that the Minister attend the House so we can have an open debate on Tusla and the resources available to it and the massive caseloads that are not being dealt with on a daily basis. It is something we have all encountered. I do not know what the solution is and I do not know how the current social workers will get through their caseloads.

I also raise the issue of hospice services. Harold's Cross hospice in Dublin gives care to 700 patients each year. That is an average of two patients dying daily who were in receipt of its services. Enough cannot be said of how appreciative people are for the care and support given to many families by Harold's Cross Hospice alone and the hospice movement in general. I commend my colleague, Senator Gallagher on raising this last week. Proper credit ought to be given to the hospice movement.