Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has received the correspondence from a family (details supplied), which has been sent on seven separate occasions since August 2021, related to allegations of historic child abuse and sexual harassment; the action, if any, that was taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37756/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Education takes child protection matters very seriously and considers the protection and welfare of children to be a fundamental responsibility of all involved in the care and education of children.

The enactment of the Children First Act 2015 led to the issue of revised Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-primary Schools in 2017 (revised 2023), with an extensive programme of professional development for teachers and school leaders. A fundamental principle of the the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-primary Schools in 2017 (revised 2023) is that schools must keep pupils/students safe from harm while attending school or participating in school activities.

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.

Under these procedures, the Department does not make any judgement on the concerns which come to its attention and ensures that the details of the concern are immediately passed on to the relevant authorities, that is Tusla - the Child and Family Agency, and An Garda Síochána. The school authority is also informed of the alleged concern received.

In this instance, the relevant procedures were adhered to and Tusla, An Garda Síochána and the relevant school authority were informed of the concern raised.

The Department has no powers to investigate child protection concerns. Tusla has statutory responsibility to assess all reports of child welfare and protection concerns. An Garda Síochána has statutory responsibility for the safety and welfare of children and for the decision on the direction of any criminal investigation.