Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 December 2018
30. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied with Tusla’s management of child welfare and protection concerns and reports thereof; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52422/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am satisfied that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, act immediately if a child is at immediate risk. All urgent and emergency cases receive immediate attention by the local duty social work team. Other cases are screened as they arrive into Tusla and are referred to family support services or dealt with by child protection teams, as needed.
Children who are in a situation of immediate risk may initially be dealt with by An Garda Síochána or by Tusla, and often both agencies work together in such cases. Tusla, when alerted to a child at immediate risk, for instance a young child left alone at home or abandoned, will contact AGS if the child needs to be removed from that situation.
Cases of neglect or risk are managed in line with Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children. I am happy to add that HIQA, in their inspections of Tusla child protection services, verify that Tusla act appropriately in cases where it becomes known that a child is at immediate risk.
Tusla has also introduced an international evidenced practice methodology called “Signs of Safety” which should help to improve the depth and quality of the screening and assessments of referrals.
I can advise the Deputy that there are oversight mechanisms in place to ensure that the service provided by Tusla meets the high standards that we expect.
Tusla provides me with information on children in care, their placement type, care status and allocation of social workers. This information provides statistical evidence of improvements to child welfare and protection services and highlights challenges and areas where further improvement is required, such as the recruitment of additional social workers.
The Health Information and Quality Authority conducts regular inspections against National Standards of the child protection, foster care and residential care services provided by Tusla. Inspection reports are submitted to me prior to publication. Each report includes an agreed action plan to improve the service which has been inspected. My officials review the issues being raised by HIQA in inspection reports, including the recommendations made to address any failings or shortcoming in practice and meet regularly with HIQA to explore how the process can be improved.
