Earlier this year, Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, submitted his report in relation to 2013. Although the report is submitted to my Department, its recommendations are wide ranging and relate to a number of Departments and Agencies. As in previous years, the Report was also been circulated to all relevant Departments and Agencies for information. It is my intention that it will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and published in the near future.
It is a matter for individual Departments to take the appropriate action on any recommendation relevant to its work. Where recommendations are proper to the DCYA they form part of the process of policy development and, if appropriate, inform the usual business planning processes.