Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021
62. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which the number of reports received affecting the safety and well-being of children of all ages received during the lockdown period or since the beginning of the pandemic have been fully investigated to the satisfaction of the complainants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36213/21]
View answerI thank the Deputy for his question as it affords me the opportunity to comment on how Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has carried out its essential work throughout this unprecedented period in our history.
Tusla has continued to provide essential services to children and families throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Tusla's focus has been on ensuring continuity of critical supports to vulnerable children and families.
Managers and staff have managed to balance their work in line with public health advice to keep children, families and front-line staff as safe as possible. Referrals continued to be screened and assessed, and staff have continued to work with children and families throughout.
Referrals to Tusla dropped by 36% over the four weeks of the first lock-down in March 2020. Following a local and national media campaign, referrals increased to over 1,300 a week for the 19 weeks from the mid April 2020 to the end of August 2020. The following 17 weeks since schools re-opened on 24 August 2020 saw a slight further increase in the weekly referrals. It is of note, that despite the restrictions, Tusla received a larger number of referrals in 2020 than in 2019 and assessments and open cases are in line with numbers from the previous year.
The Deputy also asks whether referrals have been investigated to the satisfaction of the complainants.
Due to increasing demand Tusla carries some waiting times in its cases The duty team review these cases regularly and where new information arises, the case may be allocated. A large number of referrals do not meet the threshold for a child protection response but may be referred to family support. Of course, all urgent cases get an immediate response.
Tusla has developed a robust appeal and complaints facility called 'Tell Us'. For those individuals who are dissatisfied with the service they receive from the option is open to them to make a complaint.
Details of how to make a complaint, and how complaints are managed can be found on the Tusla website. Information is also available on the escalation pathways available within the Tell Us process.
I want to take this opportunity to commend the staff of Tusla during this period, especially those staff in residential settings, out of hours emergency services and child protection teams. I know that the House will join me in acknowledging the commitment and care of foster carers to children in their care over the past year.
