Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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218. To ask the Minister for Health the responsibilities of his Department with respect to child protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30732/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Child and Family Agency (Tusla) has primary responsibility to promote the safety and well-being of children. An Garda Síochána also have statutory responsibilities for the safety and welfare of children.

Tusla operates under the remit of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, which has established a Children First Interdepartmental Group to oversee the implementation of the requirements in the Children First Act 2015 and my Department has a representative on that Group.

My Department has also established a Children First Committee to ensure that it complies with any aspects of the legislation that are relevant to it.