Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she has put in place or intends to put in place measures to protect children against abuse of a sexual, mental or physical nature; the number of such incidents of this nature reported in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15765/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the procedure, if any, in place to identify and protect vulnerable children and teenagers from all forms of abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15771/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 193 together.

The Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, published in 2011, provides greater clarity and guidance for individuals and organisations in identifying and responding appropriately to child abuse and neglect. It also sets out what organisations that care for or work with children should do to ensure they are safe whilst in the organisation. The HSE Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook is a practice based publication aimed primarily at social workers, although it may be informative to others working in child protection. The HSE, as the body with statutory responsibility for the welfare of children, has a key role in terms of providing training, advice and information to external organisations on the operation of Children First.

Both the Children First Guidance and the HSE Practice Handbook recognises the respective responsibilities of the HSE and An Garda Síochána in the assessment and investigation of allegations of child abuse and/or neglect and the importance that all personnel in both services work closely and collaboratively to ensure the protection and welfare of children , which is of paramount importance.

The Government has committed, as a priority, to the introduction of legislation to underpin Children First. My Department has been working intensively ensure the policy that is being developed will serve to protect children. I have consulted with a high level group of experts in the field, and reviewed legislation and practice internationally.

The policy framework to implement the decision by Government to put "Children First" on a statutory footing has been developed and draft heads have been provided to the Attorney General's office for her advices this week. Subject to her advice it is my intention to bring the General Scheme of the Bill to the Oireachtas Committee for Health and Children for its consideration.

The policy also takes account of the other complementary legislative proposals to strengthen child protection, namely, the National Vetting Bureau Bill and the Criminal Justice (Withholding Information on Crimes Against Children and Intellectually Disabled Persons) Bill. I have also taken the opportunity to consult informally with a number of experts in relation to the development of the policy in this area.

The framework focuses on the promotion and well-being of children generally; the provision of safe services for children; cooperation amongst professionals and organisations where children are at risk of neglect and abuse and making key individuals responsible for reporting child abuse, in line with thresholds, that is known to them. The latter objective is aimed at removing ambivalence, reluctance or refusal by people and organisations in positions of trust and authority to report child abuse and cooperate with the relevant authorities.

I intend that the legislation will reflect a broad based approach to compliance with obligations extending beyond reporting to one of safeguarding children at risk. The objective will be to ensure the greater protection of children by underpinning safe practices in organisations that provide care, education and other services to children. The Government is also committed to a significant programme of reform of our family support, child welfare and child protection services. This is intended to achieve national consistency with services across the country delivered according to national standards which will be externally evaluated. This reform will lead to a new Child and Family Support Agency which will provide the dedicated focus on family support, welfare and child protection. The implementation of these reforms will allow for the best possible services to be delivered within the resources available.

I have also received a copy of HIQA's draft Standards for Child Welfare and Protection which are published today for an eight week public consultation, following which they will be sent to me for my approval. The standards focus on how the HSE Child and Family Services carry out their responsibilities for child welfare and protection under the Child Care Act, 1991. Inspections will commence against these standards later in the year. As an indication of this government's priority to improve child welfare and protection services, HIQA have been allocated additional inspection posts to carry out this important work. These posts are currently being filled, and inspectors undergoing an induction and training programme.

The number of incidents of an emotional, sexual or physical nature reported in the past five years is a service matter and I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy concerned with the information requested.