Written answers

Tuesday, 28 November 2017

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Child and Family Agency

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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612. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which a rapid response exists in cases of incidents of children at risk brought to the attention of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50564/17]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, deals immediately with emergency cases, including for instance, if a child has been abandoned or is in immediate physical danger or at immediate risk of sexual abuse. Social work duty teams keep high priority cases under review by regularly checking to ascertain risk to the child, and where necessary will reprioritise the case.

It is important to note that if a child is at immediate risk or in danger, the Gardaí should be alerted without delay. Under the Child Care Act 1991, as amended, Gardaí have the power to remove, without a warrant, a child in immediate danger to a place of safety when it is not possible to seek an emergency care order from the Courts. Tusla's local offices and out of hours contact number provides social work advice and support for Gardaí around the clock.

Where the child has been removed by Gardaí or risk is not immediate, Tusla can go directly to the Courts for an Emergency Care Order to bring the child into care. The Courts, as part of proceedings, can also provide a warrant to Gardaí to support social workers and Gardaí may remove the child, by force if necessary. Once the child is in a place of relative safety, Tusla social workers can carry out a fuller assessment and put in place steps to support the child to reunify with their family, to put in place a child protection plan, or to receive the child into care. Where a child has a child protection plan they are listed as active on the Child Protection Notification System. This information helps social workers determine if a child who comes to their attention is already considered at risk. If sufficient progress is not being made in the plan, a child may be received into care, on a voluntary basis or by applying to the courts for a care order.

Tusla, holds the statutory responsibility for child welfare and protection, and is the appropriate body to receive reports of concerns relating to children at risk. Each referral received by the Agency is assessed and dealt with on an individual basis by the relevant social work team. Every report of concern for the safety and well-being of a child is assessed and required action is identified.

I have been very pleased to have secured an additional €40m for Tusla in Budget 2018 - which will allow for the continued recruitment and expansion of Tusla social work, social care, family support and business support staff. In addition to recruitment, I glad to say that this budget has also provided for enhancing early intervention pathways, as it includes funding for the establishment of an additional 11 Family Resource Centres.

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