Sharon Keogan (Independent)

The tragic case of young Daniel Aruebose has shaken the nation. A little boy, once in Tusla's care, vanished from sight for years without anyone raising the alarm. Only when a welfare irregularity was noticed did questions emerge, far too late. This is not simply an individual tragedy, it is a systemic failure. Tusla had Daniel on its radar and engaged with his family, and then closed the case in 2020. From then on, no one in the State noticed he was not in school, not attending health services and not visible in the community. The question we must ask is how many other children once known to Tusla have slipped through the cracks in this way.

Today I call for a full investigation into Tusla's record. We must establish year by year how many children known to Tusla have been reported missing, and how many have remained unaccounted for. Beyond investigation, we must act. Case closure protocols must be tightened. Data sharing between Tusla, schools, health services and the Department of Social Protection must be strengthened. A statutory mechanism for the independent review of child deaths and disappearances must be established. Re-examining pandemic case closures is a good start but we must go further to ensure no child has been left invisible. Without this transparency and these reforms, the public cannot have confidence in the child protection system. Families cannot trust that their children will be safeguarded. The House must press for answers.Tusla must provide the figures and the Minister must ensure that every child is treated as with the highest priority, not as a line in a closed file. Daniel's case must be the last time a child disappears in silence. Nothing less than a full independent investigation into Tusla's practices will suffice.