Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2023
474. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what measures will be taken to better protect young people in State care from sexual exploitation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32631/23]
View answer522. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what measures his Department will take to better resource the State care system to protect minors in State care from sexual exploitation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32632/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 474 and 522 together.
Children 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.
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.
More generally, 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.
As budget holder for Tusla’s core annual funding budget, my Department co-ordinates and submits an Estimates bid to the Department of Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Tusla develops and submits a detailed Estimates bid, in its bid Tusla includes any estimated requirements for funding to enhance existing services to meet current and expected demand, or for new developments in services, should funding be available.
My Department will work closely with Tusla in the coming weeks and months to identify areas that are priorities for investment across the broad range of services that Tusla deliver.
