Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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2361. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a child safety officer has been appointed to St John’s Ambulance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41944/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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One of the eleven main recommendations contained in Dr. Shannon’s report was the appointment of a National Safeguarding Officer by St. John Ambulance Ireland. Recommendation 9.3 stated that the National Safeguarding Officer must be independent of St. John Ambulance Ireland. The recommendation also stated that it may be appropriate for this position to be held by an individual in conjunction with the same position for other organisations with similar aims and structures.

In June 2024, the then Minister for Children took the initiative to fund the appointment of a National Safeguarding Officer for St. John Ambulance Ireland, for a specified period of 12 months. This was a once off payment made by the Department to ensure that the recommendations of Dr. Shannon’s report were fully implemented and to review the organisation’s child safeguarding policies and procedures. The National Safeguarding Officer carried out his work independent of St. John Ambulance Ireland.

Officials in the Department recently met with the Commissioner of St. John Ambulance Ireland and the National Safeguarding Officer to discuss the Service Level Agreement in place between the Department and St. John Ambulance Ireland which covers the funding allocated to St. John Ambulance Ireland for the appointment of a National Safeguarding Officer. Also discussed at the meeting was the implementation of Dr. Shannon’s recommendations and the work of the National Safeguarding Officer. I wish to advise that the Service Level Agreement has now concluded, and good progress was made over the course of the agreed 12-month period.

The National Safeguarding Officer has reviewed the organisations Child Safeguarding Statement and its Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures. This review was further informed by the outcome of an audit, 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.

The Department has been assured that St. John Ambulance Ireland is fully committed to ensuring that it has robust safeguarding and child protection policy and procedures in place across all aspects of the organisation. As part of its approach, St. John Ambulance Ireland has recently advised the Department that it is retaining the services of the National Safeguarding Officer on a consultancy basis, in circumstances where the Officer will also be providing similar supports to other voluntary organisations. The National Safeguarding Officer will continue to report directly to the Board of Management.

This will continue to provide an extra layer of oversight and governance and will further strengthen the efficacy of the governance regime in the organisation, relating to safeguarding and child protection.