Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 November 2018
11. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the oversight group to ensure recommendations contained in a report (details supplied) was established; the membership of the group; the progress to date on the implementation of the recommendations contained therein; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45924/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the previous question, I will go back to what the Minister said about having no control and that the panel is independent. Mr. Justice Charleton was very independent and he still kept us updated. We have independent investigations all of the time that keep us updated. Something is seriously amiss here with the terms of reference for this investigation.
My specific question relates to the oversight group. As I stated, there is overlap between the two questions. The HIQA report from June had a number of recommendations, including four overarching recommendations, with one of those advising the setting up of an oversight group to ensure recommendations are implemented. Will the Minister tell me the membership of that group and the up-to-date position on the group?
I directed HIQA to carry out the report being referred to by the Deputy. HIQA made four key recommendations, one of which was to establish an expert quality assurance and oversight group to support and advise Tusla and the Department on the implementation of the recommendations of this investigation report, as well as the implementation of Tusla’s child protection and welfare strategy and corporate plan. The group referred to as the expert assurance group has been established. I appointed the chair of the group on 29 June and the full membership on 23 August. The group held its first meeting on 30 August and has met three times so far. The membership of the group has expertise in governance, law, human resources and child protection and comprises Dr. Moling Ryan, chairperson; Dr. Helen Buckley, fellow emeritus at the school of social work and social policy, Trinity College Dublin; Mr. Gerry Verschoyle, human resources consultant; Mr. Andrew Lowe, public policy consultant; Dr. Conor O'Mahony, lecturer in law, University College Cork; and Ms Michele Clarke, chief social worker at my Department. The group will report to me each quarter and these reports will be published. I expect the first such report at the end of November.
Each of the remaining three key recommendations is being addressed. The first recommendation is for Tusla to develop an action plan to address the findings in the HIQA report. Tusla's board approved its action plan in September and it is structured under themes of the screening, preliminary inquiry and initial assessment of referrals, safety planning, retrospective cases, interagency working, information management and learning, workforce and governance. The second recommendation is about working with higher education authorities on educational pathways and on an operational review. My officials and officials from Tusla are working with an interdepartmental group that is engaging with third level institutions with respect to the health and social care workforce. My officials are also to meet representatives of the Technological Higher Education Authority and the Irish University Association. Tusla is preparing a workforce strategy that is expected to address recruitment, retention, team skill mix, etc. The third recommendation is for a review of regulatory frameworks. My officials chaired a round-table discussion with national bodies and are carrying out a survey of the regulatory mechanisms in other jurisdictions, as well as a review of literature on relevant regulatory frameworks.
I thank the Minister for confirming that. As she can see, my concern, like hers, arises from the various reports I have been reading. The HIQA report confirmed that it was a matter of significant concern that Tusla, a learning organisation, had the same issues emerging over and over again. The Charleton report had much to say about Tusla but in particular it indicated the lack of upfront honesty and a failure in self-analysis and self-criticism led to a tribunal of inquiry. That is where we are with the failure of an organisation.
The good work of Tusla has been complimented in various reports as well but, unfortunately, the serious concerns and the danger to the protection of children outweigh that good work. I can give a flavour of what the Charleton report stated. It indicated that nobody within Tusla considered owning up to the serious mistakes that had been made. It sent a file where it should not have been sent, and when the file arrived in Dublin, certain documents were taken by some unidentified person in Cavan or Monaghan and so on. I could give many such examples but my time is limited. It is why I have the most serious concerns. I welcome that the Minister has set up the review panel and the reports will be published in an ongoing fashion.
The Deputy has articulated her concerns arising from the report of the disclosures tribunal with great passion and clarity, and I share them. The Deputy raised issues and Deputies mentioned other concerns when we discussed the findings of the disclosures tribunal the week before last. I raised them explicitly with the board of Tusla when I met it approximately two weeks ago, just before the break. Serious failures have been identified, some of which relate to the disclosures tribunal report, as the Deputy identified, as well as practices.
Arising from the meeting I had with the board, I sent an extensive letter to the chairperson detailing the key issues I wanted addressed that it said it would address. That is separate from the other action plan and the process of tackling the other four matters raised in the HIQA investigation mentioned by the Deputy. I appreciate her comments and I have put in place ways that I hope will address her concerns over a short period.
The Minister is really the last hope in this as it is quite clear institutions have no ability to self-reflect. We knew this from the Garda and health service. We know it now about Tusla and the Health Service Executive. The Minister is the last stop in town, as it were, so what she sets up must be implemented. From the report I can see a high level of cases where a social worker has not been appointed. Yesterday I was told there is no social worker for south Connemara and I am checking that out as I do not know if it is true. If this is the 21st century and there are no social workers being appointed to cases, leaving aside governance matters and the failure of self-reflection and to learn from mistakes, we are in serious trouble with child protection.
Going back to my first question, the young woman was courageous enough to come forward but she could be left with a feeling that has her wondering why she came forward because nothing is happening. That is the message coming across from the panel. Will the Minister communicate with them so that confidence can be restored?
I will do that if I can. I appreciate and value the Deputy's comments on the way forward for Tusla. I agree with her and it is what I am working towards. When we work with an organisation that has more than 4,000 employees, and which the Deputy knows is in transition with its leadership at executive and board level, the option is to work with the organisation and do the analysis. It is about asking the board and executive to put in place plans and ask the executive to be accountable to the board and the board be accountable to me. That is what I am doing. I share the impatience of the Deputy and I wish it could happen more quickly. It is my hope, given that various plans have been put in place and the way in which I am trying to intently monitor or seek accountability from the board, which will ask the same of the executive, that things will change.
