Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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926. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there are sufficiently robust appeal measures to protect parents/guardians from actions taken by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency; for details of the measures; her views on the ability of Tusla to investigate its own actions where complaints have been made which are reasonable or warranted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13178/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Child and Family Agency Act 2013 which established the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, sets out a clear process for complaints regarding any aspect of its service. Tusla complaints procedures are set out in Part Nine of the Act. In the first instance, it is sought to resolve complaints locally where, for example, the parent and social worker seek to resolve the issue. Complaints officers investigate complaints as appropriate and reviewers re-examine cases where the service users do not accept the findings of the complaints officers.

In addition, appeals procedures apply to decisions taken by foster care committees and decisions to place children on the Child Protection Notification System. The current policy and procedure for the management of consumer feedback including complaints is Your Service Your Sayand a bespoke complaints policy is in development.

The Ombudsman for Children can investigate complaints made against Tusla by a child, or on behalf of a child, as well as initiating its own investigations where the Ombudsman considers it appropriate. Complaints can also be made directly to the Office of the Ombudsman which investigates complaints regarding services delivered by public bodies.

While HIQA cannot investigate individual complaints, information received by HIQA can trigger an inspection of a service. Information can be sent to HIQA regarding child welfare and protection services, statutory and private fostering services and children's residential services. CORU regulates health and social care professionals and deals with registration and complaints regarding social workers.