Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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548. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the rationale for the State agreeing to pay for the role of safeguarding officer in St. Johns Ambulance; and to explain if this will be a mechanism available to other organisations in financial distress. [10045/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The issues identified by Dr Shannon, and the recommendations made by him in his Independent review report into the Handling of past complaints of Abuse by the organisation, remain of the highest importance to the Department. Departmental officials have continued to liaise with the organisation regarding the implementation of all the recommendations contained in Dr. Shannon's report

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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549. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline whether any conditions will be imposed on St. Johns Ambulance in return for the State paying for the role of safeguarding officer. [10046/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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A key recommendation of Justice Dr Geoffrey Shannon’s Independent review report on the handling of past complaints of abuse in St John Ambulance, which was published on March 16 2023, was the appointment of a National Safeguarding officer by the St. John Ambulance Ireland organisation.

Three separate progress reports or ‘response documents’ have been published by the organisation during 2023 outlining the organisation’s progress on the implementation of recommendations made by Dr Shannon in his Independent Review. These documents were published by SJAI in March, July and November 2023.

On 4 of January 2024, officials from my Department met with the Commissioner and Interim Chair of the Board of SJAI to discuss the November update in relation to implementation of the recommendations made by Dr Shannon in his Independent Review.

The Safeguarding Lead will be a mandated person ensuring that they will be responsible for reporting any concerns regarding a child’s safety or welfare. The implementation of this role is part of the overall strengthening of governance and ensuring the safeguarding of children. A service level agreement will be put in place.

St John’s Ambulance Ireland are committed to a robust implementation of child safeguarding practices and procedures. St John’s Ambulance Ireland have measures in place now to ensure the organization will never be complacent about child safeguarding and are committed to maintaining best practice on a continuous basis.

DCEDIY will continue to engage with SJAI in terms of on going developments and compliance with recommendations set out.