Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2024
549. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline whether any conditions will be imposed on St. Johns Ambulance in return for the State paying for the role of safeguarding officer. [10046/24]
View answerA key recommendation of Justice Dr Geoffrey Shannon’s Independent review report on the handling of past complaints of abuse in St John Ambulance, which was published on March 16 2023, was the appointment of a National Safeguarding officer by the St. John Ambulance Ireland organisation.
Three separate progress reports or ‘response documents’ have been published by the organisation during 2023 outlining the organisation’s progress on the implementation of recommendations made by Dr Shannon in his Independent Review. These documents were published by SJAI in March, July and November 2023.
On 4 of January 2024, officials from my Department met with the Commissioner and Interim Chair of the Board of SJAI to discuss the November update in relation to implementation of the recommendations made by Dr Shannon in his Independent Review.
The Safeguarding Lead will be a mandated person ensuring that they will be responsible for reporting any concerns regarding a child’s safety or welfare. The implementation of this role is part of the overall strengthening of governance and ensuring the safeguarding of children. A service level agreement will be put in place.
St John’s Ambulance Ireland are committed to a robust implementation of child safeguarding practices and procedures. St John’s Ambulance Ireland have measures in place now to ensure the organization will never be complacent about child safeguarding and are committed to maintaining best practice on a continuous basis.
DCEDIY will continue to engage with SJAI in terms of on going developments and compliance with recommendations set out.
