Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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44. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she is taking on foot of the Ombudsman for Children's child death report to ensure that a comprehensive and appropriate child death review mechanism is established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50198/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The establishment of a Child Death Review mechanism, while very welcome, is not within the remit of my Department. As the the Ombudsman for Children’s recent Child Death Review report outlined, the majority of deaths take place in medical settings, which you would appreciate is outside of the scope of this Department.

I welcomed report titled Child Death Review: The Case for a National Statutory Review Mechanism for the Deaths of Children in Ireland. I am conscious that the data outlined in the report also highlights that deaths of children in care are only a small subset of the overall number of child deaths occurring in the State. In that regard, my department would have a limited overall input.

However, I can assure the Deputy that I, along with my officials will proactively engage with the nominated lead department responsible for the delivery of such a mechanism over the lifetime of this Government.

The death of a child in care or known to state services, whether at home, in care, or aftercare, is a tragic event that deeply affects family, friends, carers and staff connected to the child and local communities.

We are fortunate to have in place the National Review Panel (NRP), which conducts reviews of child deaths and serious incidents, where the child is in care or is known to Tusla.

The NRP is independent in the performance of its functions, making findings of fact and producing reports that are objective and independent of Tusla. The NRP produces reports that are factually based and identify points of learning to improve services provided to children and families.

I am conscious that since its establishment the NRP has played a critical role in identifying systemic issues, obstacles to good practice, and areas for learning to improve services. Tusla has advised that, out of the 133 reports that the NRP has produced to date, 90 reports or executive summaries have been published and are available on Tusla's website.

I can inform the Deputy that in instances where the NRP makes recommendations which fall outside the remit of both my Department and Tusla, officials within my Department ensure that these recommendations are brought to the attention of the appropriate departments or agencies across Government.

I can inform the Deputy that officials from my Department are currently engaged with their counterparts in Tusla and the Chair of the NRP in respect of reviewing and updating the NRP Guidance.

Once this review of the Guidance is complete, officials will further engage with Tusla and the NRP in respect of agreeing a future structure for the NRP within the context of the broader child death review landscape.