Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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610. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which instances of child abuse of a physical, mental or sexual nature have been brought to her Department's attention since it was established; if the issues have been satisfactorily and conclusively investigated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50562/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Deputy will be aware that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, was established on the 1st January 2014. Tusla have provided a breakdown of the referrals they have received in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016, which is included in tabular format. In addition I include data as published on Tusla's website for quarter 1 2017. It should be noted that multiple referrals may be received that relate to the same child. The Deputy will notice from the table below that the vast majority of referrals are for emotional abuse and neglect, possibly indicating abuse within the family setting.

Each referral received by Tusla is assessed and dealt with on an individual basis by the relevant social work team. 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 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.

Upon receipt of an appropriate referral, the Duty Social Worker carries out preliminary enquiries, including checking to see if the case is already open or known to child protection services, clarifies the nature of the concern, contacts key professionals, e.g. public health nurses or teachers, and records the details of the child and family. It is possible that duplicate referrals have been received, or that the child involved is already receiving a service from Tusla, or that the child needs another service such as, for instance, the HSE's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. If the threshold for a child protection assessment or response is not met but a child has an unmet need then this may be addressed as a child welfare concern by local family and community support services, organised through the Local Area Pathways team.

A referral becomes an open case (one per child) when it meets the criteria to need an initial assessment. Based on the information available, the referral will be given a priority level of high, medium and low. Open cases also include children receiving a social work service or who have been received into care.

The additional €40m funding which has been secured for Tusla in the 2018 Budget will support the continued implementation of child protection services. Tusla aims to provide a proportionate and timely response to children at risk or in need. Where appropriate, responsibility and control will be shared with families and communities by developing joint solutions and through inter-agency collaboration.

Child Protection referrals made to Tusla by category 2014 - 2016