Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2023
487. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm what action his Department will take following reports that teenage girls in the care of the State are being targeted and sexually exploited by co-ordinated gangs of predatory men, according to a new study (details supplied) which calls for an immediate investigation into the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32138/23]
View answerChildren in the care of the State are some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and my Department are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care.
The issues raised in the recently published University College Dublin report in relation to the potential sexual exploitation of children are concerning. My Department and Tusla continue to progress a number of key developments in this area:
In 2021 Tusla implemented its Child Exploitation Procedure in partnership with An Garda Síochána, which provides Tusla staff and carers with information on how to recognise indicators of child sexual exploitation, how to make appropriate referrals and how to respond to cases where children may be at risk of sexual exploitation;
All staff in childrens' residential centres have undergone Children First training which provides guidance for the protection and welfare of children, this training assists staff to assess the children in their care and to act in the appropriate manner if concerns arise;
The joint working protocol between Tusla and An Garda Síochána forms a critical part of the response to child abuse and neglect, and particularly in relation to child sexual exploitation. There are regular meetings by Tusla local area and also by Tusla’s national children’s residential service with An Garda Síochana in respect of child sexual exploitation referrals.
Additionally, Tusla has established an anti-trafficking working group in readiness for the Department of Justice, National Action Plan for Human Trafficking which includes the area of child sexual exploitation.
My Department has also recently established jointly with Tusla a working group looking at institutional and organisational abuse. This work is ongoing, including reviewing criteria for definition of such abuse and reviewing further supports and guidance for staff around any potential indicators of child sexual exploitation of children in State care.
My Department is also leading an inter-departmental group on the national implementation of Barnahus which is a multi-agency approach to the provision of intervention and services to children subject to child sexual abuse. A pilot has been operational in Barnahus West (Galway) for the past number of years with additional centres planned to be established in the east and south of the country.
In addition, the Child Care Act 1991 is the statutory framework for child welfare and protection in Ireland. The legislation places a statutory duty on Tusla to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. It sets the legislative provisions in relation to taking children into care, and the responsibilities of the Sate in that regard, which aim to improve outcomes for looked after children.
The placement of children in Residential Care is governed by the National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres 2018, and underpinned by the Child Care (Placement in Residential Care) Regulation 1995, and the Child Care (Standards in Children’s Residential Centres) 1996. Similar frameworks of standards and regulations also exist in relation to foster care and special care. All settings are inspected against the relevant standards and regulations.
Finally, in relation to responding to the UCD study, my Department will ask Tusla to liaise with An Garda Síochána in relation to the issues raised in the study’s findings. In addition, my Department will continue to work closely with Tusla's senior management team on the safeguarding framework for all children in care, including in residential care, to ensure that the framework continues to be sufficiently robust to protect children from evolving risks.
