Written answers

Thursday, 17 November 2011

3:00 pm

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 212: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if funding has been made available to the Health Service Executive to meet the cost of the 116000 hotline for missing children; if there is a limit of this funding; if the funding will be made available to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children to run same; and the timeframe she envisages [35259/11]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under EU telecoms rules agreed in 2009, the 116000 number is reserved in all EU member states for a missing children hotline. In a recent debate on this issue in Seanad Éireann, on 12th October last, I gave a commitment to work with relevant Departments and agencies to establish this Hotline in Ireland in 2012. I also announced my intention to establish a cross-sectoral Project Team to include representatives of my own Department, the Department of Justice and Equality, ComReg and an Garda Síochána. The final nominee to the project team has just been received and the team is now in a position to commence its work.

In June 2011, ComReg, who have responsibility for allocation of this number in Ireland, sought expressions of interest to run the Hotline and no substantive responses were received. However; I am aware of and have met with Irish NGOs who may be interested, but their estimated costings vary significantly. The Project Team will examine how best to operate the Hotline, in the context of the demand for the service, and to establish the extent to which services, including Garda and victim support services, which are already in existence and receiving Government funding, can be mobilised to meet Ireland's commitments in relation to the Hotline.

I want to emphasise that the investigation of a child's disappearance is the responsibility of the Gardaí. Their structures in this regard include not only the local Gardaí, who will have primary responsibility for the investigation, but also the Missing Persons Bureau. It is of paramount importance that any arrangements which are put in place to establish the 116000 Hotline in Ireland do not compromise the requirement that the first and most important contact to be made, is to notify the Gardaí of the fact that a child is missing, so the investigation can commence without delay. However the implementation of a dedicated missing children hotline is intended to provide a further level of support in such situations.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 214: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of unaccompanied minors claiming asylum who have been reported missing in each month since 1 January 2011; of these, the number who have been located by the gardaí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35380/11]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive for the information in question which I will forward to the Deputy.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 215: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of times that the Health Service Executive and An Garda Síochána have reviewed their protocol on unaccompanied minors going missing since it was first put in place in April 2009; the date on which this operation was last reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35381/11]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive for the information in question which I will forward to the Deputy.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.