Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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Question 785: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans, if any, to conduct an inquiry into the Diocese of Raphoe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26351/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The HSE, which has statutory responsibility for child welfare and protection, has been conducting a national audit of all Catholic dioceses and Religious Orders. I have indicated previously that I am awaiting receipt of the HSE's diocesan report before responding to any calls for the establishment of further State or other inquiries into any dioceses. The HSE expects to be in a position shortly to furnish this report to me, which I expect will provide a fuller basis on which to determine the most appropriate next steps and will inform the Government's decisions in relation to this matter. It is my intention to publish the HSE's diocesan report.

The Government is committed to strengthening the arrangements for the reporting of concerns of abuse by putting the Children First National Guidance on a statutory basis. The necessary legislation is being worked on by my Department as a priority. This legislation will not only bring forward statutory requirements on organisations and individuals to report, but it will also support all of civil society in understanding what to do when they have concerns about a child. The roll out of Children First will require all sectors and organisations working with children, including the faith sector, to put in place and demonstrate that they have robust safeguarding arrangements. In this context I very much welcome the work undertaken to date by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in seeking to strengthen child protection practices in the Catholic Church. The National Board continues to engage directly with the HSE's National Director for Children and Family Services on a programme of action designed to ensure that the Catholic Church is responding properly and comprehensively to all child protection concerns, and that it has in place the necessary safeguarding structures and practices to fully protect children who come into contact with the church.