Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 January 2015
494. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs regarding child protection, the steps that a person must undertake, and the approvals they must secure, in regard to setting up classes for regular fitness classes with a qualified instructor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49761/14]
View answerChildren First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children is the current national policy which sets out the non-statutory child protection requirements which are in place for all sectors of society. A person wishing to establish a service for children should familiarise themselves with this publication, which is available on my Department's website.
The Children First Bill, 2014, which is currently progressing through the Oireachtas, will place key elements of the Children First National Guidance on a statutory basis once it is enacted and commenced. In effect, this means that providers of relevant services will acquire a number of statutory obligations. Under the Bill, providers of relevant services are defined as organisations which employ one or more persons. Relevant services are listed in Schedule 1 of the Children First Bill and include leisure and physical activities, such as fitness classes for children. Once the Bill is commenced, a provider of relevant services will be required to undertake a risk assessment of the potential harm which could come to a child while availing of the services, and to then prepare a Child Safeguarding Statement which outlines the policies and procedures which are in place to mitigate the risks identified.
In parallel to the legislative process, my officials are currently revising and updating the existing Children First National Guidance. This is to ensure that the Guidance, which will continue as the basis for all citizens to report concerns, reflects the new legislative obligations and provides, in one place, a complete reference resource for individuals and organisations. This will provide clarity and ensure consistency between the proposed legislation and the existing non-statutory obligations which will continue to operate administratively for all sectors of society.
Requirements in relation to the vetting of persons who work with children are a matter for the Department of Justice and Equality. The Deputy should refer to the website of that Department for further information, including in relation to the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act, 2012.
