Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 September 2012
166. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she will take to ensure a more rapid response to reported abuse of children, whether of a physical or sexual nature; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40884/12]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that I published the Heads of the Children First Bill in April 2012. The purpose of the Bill is to ensure that organisations and professionals who work with children have a statutory responsibility to report reasonable concerns about the abuse or neglect of children in their care to the HSE Child and Family Services.
Children First has operated on the basis of voluntary compliance since it was first published by the then Department of Health and Children in 1999. Significant resources have been put in place to support the implementation of Children First and in the case of the HSE and An Garda Síochána, Children First has formed an integral part of their existing operations and practices.
The HSE has provided training, information and advice on the implementation of Children First throughout the HSE, voluntary and community sector.
In addition to the existing structures in place to support Children First, significant additional resources have been provided to the HSE over the past three years to increase the number of social workers in the child welfare and protection area. The recruitment of these additional social workers was included in the Ryan Report Implementation Plan, as was the commitment to place Children First on a statutory basis. An additional 260 social workers have now been recruited on foot of the Ryan Report.
The recruitment of the additional 260 social workers is one element of a wider reform agenda within the HSE, through which I believe we can deliver better outcomes for children and families. This reform agenda will lead to the establishment of a new Child and Family Support Agency in early 2013 which will provide a dedicated focus on child protection and will support families in need.
