Child Abuse

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 October 2019

Thursday, 17 October 2019

Questions (289, 290)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

289. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of unsolicited complaints of child abuse made to an organisation (details supplied) between January 2018 and to date in 2019; if such complaints related to historical cases or present day; if Tusla was informed of each complaint; the way in which such complaints were managed; if this process was within the bounds of child safeguarding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42717/19]

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

290. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of unsolicited complaints of child abuse an organisation (details supplied) passed on to Tusla between January 2018 and to date in 2019; if the relevant officials in Tusla have investigated such complaints to decide if they are deemed founded or unfounded; the number of complaints passed on to An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42718/19]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 290 together.

My Department is expecting a progress report from Scouting Ireland on 30 October 2019 and are planning to have a meeting with officials from Scouting Ireland in November 2019 to discuss same (date to be confirmed).  The report will include an update on all aspects of governance and safeguarding, including relevant figures and reporting practice as per the Deputy's questions.

As per previous practice (https://www.scouts.ie//News/2019/Scouting-Ireland-Report-to-DCYA-March-2019.pdf) this report will be made publicly available by Scouting Ireland once it has been considered by my Department.