Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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46. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason children in care at a residential centre run by Tusla in County Tipperary were exposed to behaviours and situations that were higher risk than the situations they were removed from, according to HIQA; the safeguards for their care that have been put in place to ensure their current safety and security; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39934/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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As the Deputy is aware the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) carried out an unannounced inspection of this residential centre, which is operated by Tusla, in August 2016. The report in respect of monitoring against national standards was published in November 2016.

The inspection report identified a worrying level of high risk behaviours by some young people, which staff were not able to manage, and which impacted on other young people in the centre. Tusla accepted the findings of the report and informed the Minister that these behaviours stopped by May 2016 and that the number of significant notifications had decreased significantly before the inspection took place in August. However, this does not detract from the risk to safety identified in the report. An action plan was prepared by Tusla to address improvements that were needed and were published with the report. Tusla has updated its child protection policy and training is being provided. Professional supervision training, a deficit highlighted in the report, is important for improving safety and this is being provided for all staff and management.

The inspection report showed that the children received good education, their health was well looked after and there was a good range of age appropriate activities. All of the children had an allocated social worker.

I have expressed my deep concern about this report to Mr Fred McBride, CEO of Tusla and requested assurances that the children are safe and doing well. I have also sought action on the institutional aspects of care highlighted in the report and have directed that I be kept up to date on progress of improvements to the service on a regular basis.