Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 March 2017
819. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department in co-operation with the Department of Education and Skills institutes procedures and training for the mandatory reporting of child protection concerns by home tutors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11187/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the Children First Act 2015 was signed into law on 19 November 2015, a number of provisions of the Act have already been commenced as follows: Sections 1 to 5 (Part I) and section 28 (Part V) of the Act were commenced on 10 December 2015 and Section 18 (Part III) and Sections 20-26 (Part IV) were commenced on 1 May 2016. I have recently committed to commencement of the remaining provisions of the Act by end 2017.
Responsibility for preparations for the implementation of the Children First Act 2015 rests with individual Departments and sectors. To assist in the preparations for the commencement of the remaining provisions of the Act, my Department and Tusla are in the process of developing a suite of resources to support the full implementation of the Act. This includes the revision by my Department of the Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children and the preparation by Tusla of guidance documents in relation to child safeguarding statements and mandated assisting. In addition, Tusla is developing a comprehensive Children First e-training module which will be universally available free of charge and will set out the information required to recognise and report child welfare and protection concerns. It is intended that this suite of resources will be launched prior to the commencement date to give persons and organisations who will acquire legal obligations under the Act sufficient time to familiarise themselves with the resources.
Any additional training needs identified by Departments/sectors must be met by the Department/sector in question which, in the case of home tutors, is the Department of Education and Skills.
I note that the Deputy specifically inquired as to the position in relation to "procedures and training" for home tutors. Unless the home tutor in question is a teacher who is registered with the Teaching Council, they are not designated mandated reporters under Schedule 2 of the Children Act 2015 and do not therefore attract the legislative obligations attaching to designated mandated reporters under the Act.
