The Deputy will be aware that Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children has operated on the basis of voluntary compliance since it was first published by the Department of Health and Children in 1999. Under Children First, organisations are required to appoint a Designated Liaison Person. This person acts as a liaison with outside agencies and a resource to any staff member or volunteer who has child protection concerns. He/she is also responsible for ensuring that the standard reporting procedure is followed , so that suspected cases of child neglect or abuse are referred promptly to the designated person in the HSE Children and Family Services or to An Garda Síochána where there is an emergency and the HSE is unavailable. The Designated Liaison Person should ensure that they are knowledgeable about child protection and undertake training as necessary.
In the legislation, it is proposed that the Designated Officer along with certain named professionals will have statutory responsibility to report information about abuse to the HSE. The obligation to report abuse extends to abuse and neglect wherever it occurs, that comes to the attention of the Designated Officer in the course of his/her work or volunteer activities.
To assist Designated Officers and certain named professionals make a determination as to whether to report abuse, a "Guidance for Reporting of Abuse" is to be developed by my Department. This Guidance will deal with issues such as definitions, thresholds and appropriate routes for the reporting of abuse. The Guidance will assist designated officers and professionals named in the legislation, in their considering a number of factors to see if the concern reaches the threshold of a report under the legislation.
My Department is currently chairing an interdepartmental group on the implementation of the Children First national policy document. Issues such as that raised by the Deputy are clearly set out in the guidance. I have asked each Department to prepare a sectoral plan which sets out the current mechanisms for assurance of compliance with Children First policy as well as identifying those areas where improved mechanisms or supports are required to ensure full implementation. I expect to receive drafts of those plans in the coming weeks.
