Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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787.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school staff members who are suspects or persons of interest in child protection criminal investigations who her Department is aware are still attending work while under investigation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32597/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Tusla has statutory responsibility to assess all reports of child welfare and protection concerns.

Any concern or allegation of a child protection nature received by staff in the Department of Education is dealt with in accordance with the Department’s Procedures for responding to Child Protection Concerns which come to the attention of staff employed by the Department of Education. The Department has no powers to investigate child protection concerns. Under these procedures the Department ensures that the details of the alleged concern(s) reported to the Department are immediately passed on to the relevant authorities, that is Tusla-the Child and Family Agency or An Garda Síochána, as appropriate. The school authority is also informed of the alleged concern received.

Tusla will decide whether the allegation of abuse is founded or unfounded. Tusla will liaise with An Garda Síochána for investigation of the criminal aspects of a case. An Garda Síochána has overall responsibility for the direction of any criminal investigation.

Any actions in relation to the school employee, while the matter is being investigated, are exclusively a matter for the employer. Where an employee has been directed to absent himself or herself from the school, such an absence does not imply any degree of guilt on the part of the school employee. The Department has no role in employer/employee matters. Where the Department is paymaster and such an absence is directed, the Department of Education shall immediately be contacted with regard to (a) formal approval for continuation of pay for the relevant period, and (b) Departmental sanction for the employment of a substitute teacher where necessary for the relevant period.