Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2023
71. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who have gone missing from State care in each of the past ten years, and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32082/23]
View answerChildren reported missing from care are recognised as being among the most vulnerable in society. Tusla along with An Garda Síochána work together on such cases through a Joint Protocol. This protocol sets out how social workers and social care workers should make a report of a missing child in care, when and how information about the child may be released to the public if the child is not located, and arrangements for the return of the child to care when they are found.
If social work or social care staff determine that a child is missing they must report the child as missing to An Garda Síochána in line with the Joint Protocol. The Gardaí have primary responsibility for investigating once a child is reported missing and throughout the Garda investigation, Tusla staff and carers maintain regular contact with the Gardaí, pass on all relevant information and assist in the safe return of the child.
Tusla has advised that most of the children and young people reported missing return to their placement after a brief period of time and remain in a safe and caring environment. In response to the Deputy’s query, Tusla has provided my Department with the available data regarding children who were reported missing from residential services between 2016 and 25th June 2023, and regarding unaccompanied minors seeking international protection who were reported missing between 2017 and
25th June 2023.
The Deputy will understand that it would not be possible for me to outline verbally the full range of data that Tusla has provided further to his query, which I will arrange to be provided to him. In 2017, 350 children in residential care or unaccompanied minors were reported missing from their placement, and the corresponding figure in 2022 was 300. As I have already noted, Tusla has advised that most of the children and young people reported missing return to their placement after a brief period of time.
Tusla has also advised that they prepare an Absence Management Plan for each child in care. This plan is a tool to manage the risk in the event of a child going missing.
