Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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521. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there has been a formal response from the board of Tusla following the publication of the third interim report of the disclosures tribunal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46767/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I met with the Board of Tusla on 25th October regarding the implications of the Disclosures Tribunal (Charleton) Report for the agency. At the meeting I expressed serious concern about a number of conclusions and findings of the Tribunal. Among the issues I raised were the:

- Serious practice issues at local level

- Failure to follow national procedures and policy

- Attempt at local level to conceal the extent of the errors made

- Breakdown between local, regional and national level in relation to roles and responsibilities

- Questions about organisational culture at local level in allowing so serious an error to go uncorrected.

I asked the Board to consider very carefully if there were any issues that had been identified by the Tribunal which would not already be addressed in the planned response to the HIQA report published last June, including the agreed Action Plan that is now in the process of implementation. I also asked the Board to examine carefully how Tusla as an organisation scrutinises itself.

I wrote to the chair of Tusla's Board on 6 November 2018. In the letter, I noted the failures in the management of the referral made in respect of Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe, now retired. I have requested additional information with respect to performance management and the supports to address adherence to policies and future cooperation with any public enquiry process. I have asked the Board to respond to me as soon as possible.