Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1015. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when Tusla closed the case with the young boy from north Dublin who is currently believed to be dead; and the other State agencies, they ensured would remain in contact with the boy and his family to ensure that they boy was safe. [47900/25]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1016. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to quantify the additional resources Tusla will be given in order to properly complete the 28,000 reviews of cases that were closed during Covid. [47901/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1015 and 1016 together.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which is of the deepest concern to myself and the Government. My Department was notified by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, of this case on the 1st of September, in full accordance with established protocols. Since that time, my Department has maintained close and ongoing contact with the Agency. Tusla has publicly confirmed that their engagement with the family and the child ended in 2020.

As the Deputy will be aware, this case is the subject of an active and ongoing investigation by An Garda Síochána. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment on any specific details that could, even inadvertently, prejudice that vital investigation.

Tusla has initiated a rapid review of its own engagement with the family in this case. Furthermore, I have requested that the independent National Review Panel prioritise a review of this case. This review will examine the nature and extent of any engagement the child and his family had with all relevant State services, including health, social, and educational services. The National Review Panel has an independent Chair and operates with full independence, including its own legal advice, to ensure its findings are objective and factual.

Separately, and as a broader point of policy, I have also asked Tusla to conduct a wider follow-on review focused on cases that were closed to child protection services during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. My Department is currently liaising with Tusla on the legal basis and scoping of this process and any additional resources, if required, will be considered as part of this scoping.

Our collective focus must remain on supporting the work of An Garda Síochána’s investigation and identifying learnings to enhance the State’s services supporting vulnerable children and their families.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1017. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in State services or known to State services that have died in the past 20 years; and the way in which these children died. [47902/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you for your question, Deputy. Tusla is currently compiling the requested information, and therefore a response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.