Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012
1159 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the reports into the deaths of children in the care of the State and the report into the Roscommon incest case, the specific actions she has taken to address the failings of the relevant authorities and the measures she has implemented to ensure that there can never be a repeat of such events; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17755/12]
View answerIt is a matter of concern to me that historically in Ireland we have seen only a very limited number of published reports into the deaths of children in care. It is for this reason that I am supportive of the work of the Independent Review Group on Child Deaths which was tasked with reviewing files held by the HSE relating to the deaths of children and young people over a ten year period who were in care or known to the HSE. The Review Group was asked to review the deaths of children and young people in the following three categories:
in care within the meaning of the Child Care Act 1991 at the time of their death;
in receipt of aftercare within the meaning of Section 45 of the Child Care Act 1991 at the time of their death;
known to the child protection services within the meaning of the HIQA guidance to the HSE of 20 January, 2010 at the time of their death.
The Review Group was also asked to make recommendations on how child protection responses can be strengthened, based on the learning identified from the documentation under review. This is a very significant body of work and I very much hope that the resulting report will help to guide our approach to strengthening our child protection system, where particular deficits have been identified. The findings of a number of previous reports relating to the welfare and protection of children, notably the Roscommon report, have already helped to guide policy makers and practitioners working in this field. The Government has set out a very challenging programme of work designed to reform and strengthen the delivery of child protection services and improved safeguarding of children. Key initiatives include:
The publication of revised Children First Guidance, which was launched last year.
The preparation of legislation as a priority to put the Children First Guidance on a statutory basis.
The establishment of an inter-Department Committee to oversee the consistent implementation of Children First across all sectors.
The holding of a Constitutional referendum on children's rights, which is planned for later this year.
The introduction of external inspection of child protection services by the Health Information and Quality Authority to ensure that services are being delivered to the highest standard.
The establishment of a dedicated Child and Family Support Agency, which will be led by the HSE's National Director for Children and Family Services, Gordon Jeyes, as part of a wide ranging reform programme under way across children and family services.
The change programme is addressing the quality and consistency of child welfare and protection services. This change process will continue into the new Child and Family Support Agency where Gordon Jeyes will be the first Chief Executive. An open recruitment process is under way for a number of key senior positions for the Agency. I hope that this process delivers a very strong team to work with Gordon in leading the improvement of children's services.
Enhanced accountability is also an important feature of the reforms. This greater transparency is already evident in the provision for the first time of a dedicated budget of €550 million for Children and Family Services in 2012. This will bring greater transparency and control to budgetary management and pave the way for the establishment of the new Agency in 2013. I am determined that the measures I have described above will create a new and revitalised service delivery framework for our children.
