Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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567. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will report on the development of multi-agency specialist child centres to deal with issues of child sex abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23654/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department is currently working to establish dedicated centres to support children who have suffered sexual abuse in a way that will minimise their trauma,  while allowing them to  access protective, therapeutic or health services, and to engage with the criminal justice system. My colleagues the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charles Flanagan and Minister for Health, Simon Harris, are in agreement with this approach. An interdepartmental group has been established  and met for the first time on 26 February 2018. It continues to meet every 4 weeks and will meet next on the 18th June.

A working title of ‘One House’ is being used for the  Irish model. The ‘One House’ will bring together the protection, health, immediate therapeutic supports and policing services and put in place child centred services that minimise, as far as possible, any additional trauma for the child and their family.

The group is chaired by my Department and also includes senior representatives from the Department of Health, Department of Justice and Equality, the Health Service Executive, An Garda Síochána and Tusla-Child and Family Agency. 

The aim of the group is the preparation for the establishment of a pilot centre early in 2019, through collaboration across the health, criminal justice and child protection sectors. The work of the group will then continue to monitor and support the functioning of the pilot with a view to building on the learning towards the development of a further 3 centres across the country.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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568. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if discussions have taken place in terms of synchronising or streamlining the contact between the differing number of Garda and Tusla divisions in relation to dealing with cases of child abuse in view of the recommendation by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23655/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Children First Joint Working Protocol for An Garda Síochána/Tusla- Child and Family Agency Liaison was published earlier this year to reflect the provisions in the new Children First Act 2015. The protocol covers respective responsibilities in key areas including:

- Notifications of suspected abuse between both agencies

- Role and function of each Agency

- Confidentiality and information sharing

- On-going case management liaison

- Liaison management structures and meetings

Section 10 of the protocol outlines the structures and arrangements for liaison between An Garda Síochána and Tusla at Local Area office and Garda district levels as well as the national structures that are in place. The protocol is available on Tusla’s website at www.tusla.ie.