Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

249. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which procedures are now in place to identify children at risk at an early stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40404/16]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

252. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which the most modern methods are currently available and utilised, to identify children at risk and activate satisfactory process and outcome; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40410/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 252 together.

The most vulnerable children are those living with families experiencing difficulties. These include families where parents have drug or alcohol problems, or suffer mental ill-health. Children who live in homes where they are exposed to domestic violence are also at risk. I wish to assure the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, deals immediately with emergency cases, where for instance, a child has been abandoned or is in immediate physical danger or at immediate risk of sexual abuse.

Each referral received by Tusla is assessed and dealt with on an individual basis by the relevant social work team. Preliminary screening and initial assessments of concerns are undertaken to decide the best course of action for the child and their family. It should be noted that approximately 50% of all referrals do not proceed to initial assessment. This is due to a number of factors including duplication of referrals, child already known to Tusla or in receipt of services, or the referral was not deemed to be appropriate.

Following initial assessment, the case remains with the duty team, who monitor risk until the case is allocated to a dedicated social worker. 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. If it seems that the problem relates to abuse of the child, the child protection pathway is followed.

Children First National Guidance (2011) gives advice for notifying Tusla of situations where abuse is suspected. A range of professionals including teachers, nurses, early years educators, gardaí and other health professionals, who see children regularly, are in a good position to identify children at risk. Where someone has reasonable grounds for suspecting a child is being, or has been, abused, they are expected to immediately contact Tusla.

The Children First Act, 2015, once it is fully commenced, will place a statutory obligation on key professionals (mandated persons) to report concerns of harm above a defined threshold to Tusla without delay. It is my intention that these provisions will be commenced by the end of 2017.

Early intervention in the lives of vulnerable children is a key priority of mine. Tusla through its Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is a joint prevention and early intervention initiative led by my Department and Atlantic Philanthropies. The aim of the programme is to test and evaluate prevention and early intervention approaches in 13 areas of disadvantage to improve outcomes for children, in particular children and families living in poverty.