Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she intends to introduce the 116000 EU hotline for missing children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14564/11]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, in view of the fact that the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has no role in providing the 116000 missing children hotline as it is an operational matter, when she will make available the funds to provide this service for the protection and location of missing children; if she is not willing to fund the hotline, if she will confer responsibility for the hotline's establishment to another Department; if she will pursue the matter with other Departments to ensure some comfort is brought to the parents and families of missing children by ensuring this hotline is established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14737/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 171 together.

The purpose of the 116000 phone number is to provide a contact number to families if children go missing. While the Office of the Minister for Children is involved in ongoing discussions with other Government Departments in relation to the development of a hotline for missing children, the establishment of the hotline for missing children is not a matter for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The issue of missing children is a matter for the Garda Síochána.