Written answers

Tuesday, 6 November 2018

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Child Abuse

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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952. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the procedure followed by Tusla in dealing with subsequent disclosures of sexual abuse if they are made in cases in which a child's allegation of sexual abuse has been judged to be unfounded. [44800/18]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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 I have been advised by Tusla that, where allegations of abuse are made, by their nature the allegations must be assessed on an individual basis. Allegations are assessed in the context of whatever information is known about the child or the person suspected of alleged abuse. A previous unfounded allegation is considered by Tusla to be significant, and should be judged in the context in which it was unfounded.

One possible reason for an outcome of unfounded is that the complainant would not engage in the process and make a complaint. This would present a different context to one where the allegations were judged, on the balance of probabilities, to be unfounded.

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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953. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the percentage of all allegations of child sexual abuse made to either Tusla or An Garda Síochána since 2013 which have given rise to criminal charges being brought against the person against whom the allegation was made. [44802/18]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Criminal charges can only be prepared following investigation by An Garda Síochána. Tusla , the Child and Family Agency, has no role in the processing of criminal charges and is not in a position to provide the information requested by the Deputy.

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