Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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883. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which she expects to be in a position to ensure that children or young adults at risk or deemed to be at risk do not remain in or are not allowed to return to the accommodation where the risk has occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24038/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Where there is an obvious ongoing risk to a child, whether in their family home or in a care placement, the child has to be made safe. That either involves removing the risk, or removing the child. The impact of removing a child from their home is a serious one with possible adverse implications for them, and so should only be done where there is no alternative and where it is based on an assessment of the best interests of the child.

In the case of young adults, Tusla works with young people who are in receipt of an aftercare service. Tusla aftercare staff endeavour to guide and advise young adults regarding safety, but they cannot compel a young person. Tusla also works closely with other care providers including the HSE, in respect of access to primary care services, child and adolescent mental health services, disability and other services.

Children First legislation, enacted but not yet commenced, places an obligation on organisations providing services to children, to identify risks to the protection of children, and to take steps to modify such risks.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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884. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which her Department has access to and information on all circumstances in which children have been at risk or continue to be at risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24039/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department has a range of systems in place to ensure it is informed of risk to children and families. Tusla, within its national office, has a dedicated Quality Assurance Team. This team produces monthly, quarterly and annual reports in respect of Tusla's functions, and includes detailed reporting on key performance indicators on waiting times for cases to be allocated. Tusla also provides me with information on children in care, their placement type, care status and allocation of social workers. Tusla has operational responsibility for individual cases and holds the data for individual cases. My Department does not, nor should it, have access to this information but a requested briefing can be provided where the circumstances warrant it, and on occasion Tusla has alerted the Department on certain issues through the 'Need to Know' notification route.

Each referral received by the Agency is assessed and dealt with on an individual basis by the relevant social work team. Preliminary screening is aimed at establishing the appropriateness of the referral to Tusla services and, if necessary, is followed by an initial assessment of the concern to determine the best course of action for the child and their family. Over half of all referrals received by Tusla are welfare concerns and Tusla's policy is to refer these to relevant family and community support services. At any stage, if a determination is made that there is abuse, whether physical, emotional, sexual or neglect, from which there is an ongoing risk of harm, the child protection pathway is followed. A social worker works with the parent/s to support them to provide safe care for their child. In a minority of cases this may lead to the child being placed on the Child Protection Notification System (CPNS) or the child being received into care. I wish to assure the Deputy that Tusla deals immediately with emergency cases, including for instance, if a child has been abandoned or is in immediate physical danger or at immediate risk of sexual abuse.

As required under Section 8 of the Child Care Act 1991, my Department also receives the annual 'Review of Adequacy' report compiled and published by Tusla, which reviews the adequacy of the child and family services provided by the Agency.