Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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168. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement that his Department has had with Tusla, after it was disclosed that 20 children were placed at harm by the HSE in South Kerry CAMHS while under the care of Tusla; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28277/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department has had no engagement with the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, on the matter raised by the Deputy. As a result of the Deputy's question, my Department contacted Tusla and they gave us the following information about the situation:  

-On the 26th January 2022 the HSE published the Maskey Review into the care received by children and young people at South Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) services.

- Further to the findings of that report, Tusla identified 6 Children in the care of the State as having suffered harm arising out of the medical practice of a CAMHS medical practitioner during the period of investigation. 2 of these 6 children were identified as having suffered significant harm arising out of the medical practice of a CAMHS medical practitioner.

- The 6 children identified have been reviewed by CAMHS and meetings offered to both the foster carers of the children and the parents of the children. The assigned Social Worker to the children attended the meetings between the Health Services Executive and the parents. All 6 children have been offered Health Screening from the HSE & their carers have been informed of the Compensation Scheme. The needs of these 6 children are reviewed formally in their child care reviews in line with Regulations.

- Tusla identified 14 other children in the care of the State as having accessed the service or having been referred to the service during the period of the investigation. These children were viewed not to have been harmed by the medical practice of the CAMHS medical practitioner. The needs of these 14 children are reviewed formally in their child care reviews in line with Regulations.

- CAMHS provides copies of all correspondence to ensure Tulsa & the Social Work Department specifically has relevant and up to date information, in order to support both the children and the foster carers into the future.

I wish to advise the Deputy that statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. CAMHS is managed by the Health Service Executive, and is a separate entity to Tusla. In some instances, a child in the care of Tusla may require a service or support that is provided by another Agency such as the HSE.

Tusla and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of alternative care. In all instances the best interests of those children in the care of the State must remain the paramount concern.