Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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192. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of joint specialist interviews with gardaí taking the lead role carried out in each of the years 2016, 2017, and to date in 2018, in cases of alleged child sexual abuse. [41672/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am informed by Tusla that data on joint specialist interviews with Gardaí taking the lead role is not collected.

Joint working between Tusla and An Garda Síochána forms an integral part of the child protection and welfare service. Once a report of child sexual abuse has been screened by a duty social worker, a strategy meeting is held to decide which service is most suitable for the child. One of the available options is a Joint Specialist Interview with Gardaí taking the lead role.  

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. Section 12 of the protocol outlines joint specialist interviewing of children.

I have established an interdepartmental working group to lead on the establishment of specialist centres for children who have been sexually abused. These centres will be child focused, and will minimise the need for repeated interview. The centres will provide for forensic, medical, and child protection assessment, as well as joint Gardai/Social Work Specialist Interviews and child and family support. Work in underway to establish the first pilot centre in early 2019.