Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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682. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to provide estimates on the number and percentage of current child protection and welfare cases that have not been allocated a social worker, who are adult disclosures or historical referral cases; to provide estimates for the average waiting time for an adult disclosure case to be allocated a social worker; and the number of these which are considered high risk, medium risk and low-risk cases. [19151/16]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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683. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to provide estimates on the number and the percentage of referrals going through social work offices that are adult disclosure cases. [19152/16]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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684. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when Tusla, the Child and Family Agency will publish its draft policy or strategy on adult disclosure cases, so called section 3 referrals; and the current guidelines on dealing with adult disclosure cases by social worker offices. [19153/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 682 to 684, inclusive, together.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has advised me that data in relation to retrospective abuse cases is not routinely collected at present. My Department has requested that Tusla provide figures, broken down by area, for cases awaiting the allocation of a social worker that involve adult disclosures of retrospective abuse allegations. Tusla has informed me that they are planning to commence the routine return of this information on a monthly basis by the end of the year.

In 2015, Tusla conducted a National Review of Cases Awaiting Allocation which included information on the number of retrospective cases. The review showed, at February 2015, that of the 8,865 cases awaiting allocation nationally there were 1,204 cases of retrospective abuse disclosures. The review indicated that of these 1,204 retrospective cases, 27% were a High priority (327), 46% Medium priority (550) and 27% Low Priority (327). The review did not look at the average waiting times for retrospective cases awaiting allocation of a social worker.

For the 2016 review, Tusla is examining all cases awaiting allocation including retrospective abuse cases. This review will examine each individual case and the priority of same. The review will be concluded by year end and will provide detailed information to my Department in respect of such matters.

The current operational policy on dealing with disclosures by adults is included in the "Policy and Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Child Abuse and Neglect". This policy was approved in September 2014 and is available on request directly from Tusla. I am arranging to have a copy forwarded by Tusla to the Deputy. The policy takes into account Children First guidelines and relevant Court judgements as they apply to fair procedure and due process. A full national review of this policy has been completed and a revised text is to be considered shortly by the senior management team within Tusla, and its National Policy Oversight Committee, for approval and circulation.

Under Section 3.6 of the Children First (2011) guidelines, when a retrospective disclosure of abuse is made, an assessment must be taken to ensure there is no current risk to any child who may be in contact with the alleged abuser. Should risk be identified, Tusla will work with other agencies, including An Garda Síochana, for investigative purposes. Reporting a child abuse concern, whether it is current or historical, should be reported to Tusla and An Garda Síochana, in line with the Children First Guidance.