Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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269. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her Department's actions in response to (details supplied); the reason her Department will not hold a public inquiry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16321/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to acknowledge the trauma associated with sexual abuse in childhood which continues into adulthood, affecting many aspects of a victim-survivor's life and the impact it has had on those victim-survivors. I am clear that all the recommendations in Dr. Geoffrey Shannon’s report should be complied with as soon as practicable by St. John Ambulance Ireland. My Department has been assured that St. John Ambulance Ireland is fully committed to ensuring that it assists and provides support to all victim-survivors.

It should be noted that St. John Ambulance Ireland is not a body under the aegis of my Department and is independent in its functions as a registered charity, and I have no role in the governance of the organisation.

My Officials have continued to engage with St John Ambulance Ireland on a number of occasions since the publication of Dr. Shannon’s report and will continue that engagement in relation to issues raised in that report and its eleven main recommendations.

A key recommendation of Dr. Shannon’s Report was for the appointment of a National Safeguarding Officer to St. John Ambulance Ireland. In 2024, the previous Minister for Children took the initiative to provide once off funding for the appointment of a National Safeguarding Officer for St. John Ambulance Ireland, for a specified period of 12 months. This was to ensure that recommendations of Dr. Geoffrey Shannon’s report were fully implemented in full and to review the organisations child safeguarding policies and procedures, and this work is ongoing. The National Safeguarding Officer ensures that an extra layer of oversight and governance is present which in turn strengthens the efficacy of the governance regime in the organisation. It should be noted that the Safeguarding Officer is independent in his work from St. John Ambulance Ireland. The Safeguarding Officer is currently reviewing the organisations Child Safeguarding Statement and its Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures. It is understood that these are deemed to be robust and clear, but there are opportunities for enhancement. This review will be further informed by the outcome of an audit, being undertaken by the National Safeguarding Officer, of all 22 St. John Ambulance Ireland branches around the country in respect of the implementation of Children First.

St. John Ambulance Ireland has recently published its fourth progress report on the implementations of the recommendations highlighting the progress it has made as an organisation. My Officials are due to meet with the Commissioner of St. John Ambulance Ireland and the National Safeguarding Officer in the near future to further review the implementation of Dr. Shannon’s recommendations and the ongoing work of the National Safeguarding Officer.

I look forward to further progress being made on the implementation of Dr. Shannon’s recommendations and the finalisation of the work of the National Safeguarding Officer this year.