Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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38. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the degree to which the ongoing welfare of children is adequately protected in all situations where the State is involved, directly or indirectly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43511/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection and welfare services. If I, or my officials, become aware of a situation in which a child is considered to be at risk, that concern is communicated to Tusla as a matter of urgency.

A child welfare concern can be a problem experienced directly by a child, or the family of a child, that is seen to impact negatively on the child's health, development and welfare, and that may need assessment and support, but is not presenting as child protection.

Tusla has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection.

Tusla is also responsible for the assessment and child safeguarding response for children referred to them under the provisions of Children First and the Children First Act 2015. This includes any concern about a child that reaches the threshold of “reasonable grounds for concern” or 'harm' as defined by the Children First Act.

Tusla assesses all child protection and welfare concerns that are reported to it. If it is found that a child is not receiving adequate care and protection.

Tusla has a duty to take appropriate action to promote the welfare of the child. This may include supporting families in need of assistance in providing care and protection to their children. The Child Care Act also sets out the statutory framework for taking children into care if necessary. Many of these concerns are best served by a family support approach while some children need the direct intervention of a child protection approach.

I am informed by Tusla that all urgent and emergency welfare and protection cases receive immediate attention by the local duty social work team.