Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 December 2018
34. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the response she has received from the board of Tusla following her engagement with the board on matters raised on the findings of the disclosures tribunal in respect of Tusla. [52440/18]
View answerThe recommendations of the report are mainly a matter for An Garda Síochána. A relatively small portion of the report concerns Tusla. Although it does not make specific recommendations about Tusla, the report does identify some very serious issues that existed in a social work office in one area at the time.
Arising from the Tribunal's report, I wrote to the Chairperson of Tusla on 6 November 2018. In the letter, I noted the failures in the management of the referral made in respect of Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe.
I asked the Board to consider what steps it would take in terms of a management response (including training, performance management and leadership) and in terms of changing the culture of the organisation to ensure it learns from previous mistakes. I received a response from the Board on 11th December. It addresses the issues raised in my letter, notes actions underway and provides the basis for further consideration of these serious matters.
I met with the Board of Tusla on 25th October regarding the implications of the Disclosures Tribunal (Charleton) Report for the agency. At the meeting I expressed serious concern about a number of conclusions and findings of the Tribunal. Among the issues I raised were the:
- Serious practice issues at local level
- Failure to follow national procedures and policy
- Attempt at local level to conceal the extent of the errors made
- Breakdown between local, regional and national level in relation to roles and responsibilities
- Questions about organisational culture at local level in allowing so serious an error to go uncorrected
The Deputy will be aware that a number of the issues were also identified in HIQA's Statutory Investigation into Tusla's management of allegations sexual abuse that I established in 2017, and which was published in June of this year.
These issues included poor record keeping and management, and an inconsistent approach to the implementation of national policies and procedures. Following the publication of the HIQA report, Tusla committed to a Strategic Action Plan, approved by the Board.
Many of the issues relevant to Tusla which were raised in Mr. Justice Charleton's Report are addressed in this plan. Others which have not been covered to date will be incorporated into the Action Plan, once agreed by the Board.
The Strategic Action Plan has been submitted to my Department and to the Expert Assurance Group (EAG) I have established to monitor the implementation of the recommendations, and advise Tusla and my Department. The Group meets regularly to assess the status of the key actions under its remit and I expect that its first quarterly report will be submitted to me in the coming days.
There is much to learn from both the Tribunal report and HIQA's statutory investigation. I believe that the process of addressing these matters within Tusla is well underway. Progress will be monitored and encouraged by the Board, the EAG and by my department.
