As the Deputy will appreciate, it is not appropriate for me to comment on an individual case but I have forwarded the information provided by the Deputy to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for immediate attention.
It is proper that allegations of child abuse should be reported to the local Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, office in the first instance and, where the allegations are of criminal nature, to An Garda Síochána. This is in line with their respective roles set out in the Children First guidelines. I wish to assure the Deputy that any immediate protective action, which proves to be necessary in a particular case, would be taken in accordance with Tusla's statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991.