Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 October 2012
215. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she has in mind the need to make provision for warning mechanisms or early alert systems to address issues of child neglect or abuse in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47106/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of child protection policy is to protect children from abuse and neglect. Key to the delivery of this policy is ensuring that society in general is aware of the possibility of abuse and neglect of children and of the reporting procedures available where concerns are identified.
Child abuse takes place in a variety of settings. International research shows that most child neglect and physical abuse takes place in the home. Abuse also takes place in other settings e.g. school, recreational etc. The Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children document was designed to assist in identifying and reporting child abuse. The guidelines specifically highlight the roles and responsibilities of the HSE and An Garda Síochána, as the two agencies with statutory responsibility for child protection. The Guidelines are also intended to assist organisations in ensuring that children under their care are safe, that staff / volunteers can identify possible abuse within the organisation or elsewhere and that there is in place the appropriate structure for reporting to relevant statutory bodies.
To ensure that Children First is properly implemented across Government Departments and at sectorial level the DCYA has established a Children First Implementation Inter-Departmental Group (CFIDG). Part of the role CFIDG is to report on sectorial issues and/or challenges arising from the implementation of the Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children and to share information on good practice to ensure the successful implementation of Children First nationwide. The Deputy will be aware that Children First has operated on the basis of voluntary compliance since it was first published by the then Department of Health and Children in 1999. Significant resources have been put in place to support the implementation of Children First and in the case of the HSE and An Garda Síochána, Children First has formed an integral part of their existing operations and practices. The HSE has provided training, information and advice on the implementation of Children First throughout the HSE, voluntary and community sector.
Under Children First, organisations are required to appoint a Designated Officer. The Designated Officer has responsibility that staff and volunteers are vetted, recruited properly and are trained in safe practices with children and in recognising signs of abuse and neglect. The Designated Officer makes information available to parents about child protection in the organisation and will have a system in place to check and report on its compliance with the legislation. In the legislation, it is proposed that the Designated Officer along with certain named professionals will have statutory responsibility to report information about abuse to the HSE. The obligation to report abuse extends to abuse and neglect wherever it occurs, that comes to the attention of the Designated Officer in the course of his/her work or volunteer activities.
To assist Designated Officers and certain named professionals make a determination as to whether to report abuse, a ‘Guidance for Reporting of Abuse’ is to be developed by my Department. This Guidance will deal with issues such as definitions, thresholds and appropriate routes for the reporting of abuse. The Guidance will assist designated officers and professionals named in the legislation, in their considering a number of factors to see if the concern reaches the threshold of a report under the legislation. This approach is intended to ensure that only those cases which require an assessment by the HSE are brought to its attention.
