Over the last number of years we have seen the publication of some very significant reports arising from inquiries, investigations and research conducted into child abuse. I read these reports with great concern and sadness, and the collective learning from this work has helped to inform, motivate and shape the Government's ongoing response to the issue of child abuse in all its forms.
It is difficult with hindsight to speculate at this point as to whether such abuse could have been prevented. In the case of historic inquiries different attitudes and a greater awareness of the prevalence of abuse may certainly have altered the landscape. It is clear that children were failed by the system and by those charged with their protection. More generally national and international research has linked incidents of child abuse with domestic violence, alcohol and drug addiction amongst families. We need to tackle this on a number of fronts, through early intervention and the provision of family support; by ensuring that the social work profession is sufficiently trained to make professional decisions; and perhaps more importantly by promoting and developing much greater societal awareness of child neglect and abuse and the risk posed to vulnerable children.
It is also the case that we need to put in place a strengthened policy, legislative and practice framework to respond to the issue of child abuse in Ireland. I would say in this context and in terms of looking forward that the creation of a dedicated Department of Children and Youth Affairs has been a very significant step by the Government in recognising and acknowledging the importance of this issue and that the protection of children is given the highest political priority. Within the Department I have set a very strong agenda that has as its aim the strengthening of the policy, legislative and structural framework around child welfare and protection, to include required reform of service provision. Since coming into office I published revised Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children. The Guidance deals with the recognition, reporting and management of child safety concerns. The previous Guidance was in place over the last decade. The revised Guidance sets out specific protocols for HSE social workers, Gardaí and other front line staff in dealing with suspected abuse. In particular the Guidance focuses on the impact of neglect, and the negative effect of domestic violence and addiction on children. The scope of Children First extends beyond the reporting of suspected abuse. It emphasises the importance of multi-disciplinary, inter-agency working in the management of such concerns. Key to this is the sharing of information between agencies and disciplines in the best interests of children and the need for full co-operation to ensure better outcomes. The Guidance also emphasises society’s role in protecting children.
The HSE also published a supporting Child Welfare and Protection Practice Handbook for all its staff in order to support the drive for greater consistency in terms of the application of Children First across the system.
Separately, my Department is developing legislative proposals to make compliance with Children First a statutory obligation. The legislation will reflect a broad based approach to compliance with obligations extending beyond reporting to one of safeguarding children at risk and the objective will be to ensure the greater protection of children by strengthening the existing system for reporting and responding to suspected child abuse.
Putting Children First on a statutory footing was a key recommendation of the Ryan Report and went hand-in-hand with other recommendations including the commitment to recruit additional child protection social workers. These posts will significantly strengthen the capacity of the state’s child protection and family support services. The Ryan report also recommended improved induction training for graduate social workers including a reduced caseload in their first year of practice.
I am also working very closely with my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD, who is sponsoring two additional pieces of legislation which will see the vetting of those working with children put on a statutory footing, and which will also provide for penalties for those withholding information relating to the commission of child abuse. The effect of these legislative changes will see a significantly strengthened framework to better protect children at risk.
The legislative changes are being matched by a strong and parallel focus on the reform of child welfare and protection services. This will lead to the establishment of the new Child and Family Support Agency, to which the Government is committed. This process is being assisted by the work of the Task Force which I established in September, 2011 and which met for the eleventh time last week. The establishment of the new Agency is part of a wider "change agenda", which is aimed at strengthening the organisational capacity, business processes and systems necessary to deliver safe and reliable child protection services in line with Government objectives.
