Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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700. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she will take or proposes to take to ensure a more rapid response to reported abuse of children, whether of a physical or sexual nature; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7439/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, holds the statutory responsibility for child welfare and protection, and is the appropriate body to receive reports of concerns relating to children at risk. 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 risk of sexual abuse.

Approximately 60% of referrals to Tusla are of a child welfare concern with the remaining 40% related to child protection concerns. Tusla's policy is to refer child welfare referrals 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 significant harm, the child protection pathway is followed. 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 am committed to commencing the Children First Act 2015 by the end of the year. As the Deputy will be aware, the Children First Act 2015 will see mandatory reporting by key professionals, mandated assisting, comprehensive risk assessment and preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements by services for children, and the establishment of the Children First Interdepartmental Implementation Group on a statutory basis. Tusla is developing online training for mandatory reporters. Children First guidelines will continue in parallel with the Act. This sets out the roles and responsibilities for all citizens to report child welfare and protection issues to Tusla, and where criminal matters are involved, the Gardaí.

I secured additional funding of €37 million in 2017, bringing Tusla's overall allocation to over €700 million which allows Tusla to continue its journey in building an effective and responsive child protection and welfare system.