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Child Protection

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 July 2020

Wednesday, 22 July 2020

Questions (182)

Alan Farrell

Question:

182. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will address concerns raised in recent reports citing major non-compliance issues at a child protection and welfare service in County Cork; the measures being taken to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17520/20]

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Written answers

As the Deputy notes, HIQA recently published a report of an inspection into the operation of Tusla's Child Protection Notification System (CPNS) in the Cork area.

The report highlights several areas for improvement.

There were delays in arranging case conferences for children whose cases needed to be considered for inclusion on the CPNS. Social work managers needed to confirm that children on the CPNS saw a social worker as appropriate.

The report also found that some children were listed as receiving a social work service the CPNS for long periods. This was a concern because it meant that the children’s circumstances may not be improving despite the work done to try and keep them safe at home.

HIQA inspection reports had identified that the Cork area had experienced considerable change in staff, and that the area would benefit from a period of full staffing and stability.

My Department, the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive and Tusla have met to discuss and agree a Joint Protocol on the funding of care placements for children in care who have a disability.

Department officials have liaised with the Tusla senior management who have confirmed that all children who were identified in this report as requiring care placements now have a placement.

Tusla senior management in Cork implemented a complex case management group to provide further oversight of the cases of children on the CPNS.

Tusla, HIQA and my Department will continue to work closely in monitoring and addressing issues arising from inspection reports.

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