Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2018
977. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which she expects to be in a position to ensure that children or young adults at risk or deemed to be at risk do not remain in or are allowed to return to the accommodation in which the risk has occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45367/18]
View answerTusla act immediately on notification of an immediate risk to a child. Children who are in a situation of immediate risk may initially be dealt with by An Garda Síochána or by Tusla, but in the main both agencies work together in such cases. Tusla, when alerted to a child at immediate risk, for instance a young child left alone at home or abandoned, will contact AGS if the child needs to be removed from that situation.
Gardaí have specific powers under Section 12 of the Child Care Act to remove a child from a situation of danger, and under Section 13 to deliver that child into the custody of Tusla. Tusla will at that point carry out an assessment to determine the child's needs. This may in some cases include applying for an Emergency Care Order. In all cases, a plan will be put in place to ensure that the child is safe from harm.
In relation to returning a child to accommodation from which they were removed, this may occur if the person who posed the risk is no longer there, or if a protective adult is in place.
