Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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209. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a complaint by a person (details supplied) submitted to his Department in 2014; the progress that has been made with regard to the complaint; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51934/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the primary statutory responsibility for child protection rests with the Child and Family Agency (Tusla). The role of my Department is to provide guidance to schools and other educational organisations in implementing child protection policy and referral of any child protection concerns to the Child and Family Agency.

Where child protection concerns are brought to the attention of staff in my Department the internal Procedures for Responding to Child Protection Concerns brought to the attention of Staff Employed by the Department of Education and Skillsare followed. While my Department has no role in investigating individual child protection concerns, my Department is very conscious of ensuring any information received by the Department is transmitted to the appropriate authorities in accordance with Children First Guidelines. Tusla and the Gardaí have the necessary statutory powers and expertise to conduct investigations in this very sensitive area.

In February 2014, the individual referred to by the Deputy wrote to my Department. The correspondence referred to an historic child protection concern. In line with my Departments internal procedures, a Standard Incident Report Form was completed and the information was transmitted to both Tusla and the Gardaí. My Department also forwarded the relevant contact details for the Gardaí to the individual referred to by the Deputy. My Department has no role in investigating child protection concerns. This role rests with Tusla and the Gardaí.