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Child and Family Agency

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 May 2021

Thursday, 27 May 2021

Ceisteanna (26)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Ceist:

26. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of the interagency cooperation between Tusla and An Garda Síochána in cases of sexual assault of very young children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25557/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Inter-agency cooperation between Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and An Garda Síochána is critical to child protection. Both have distinct functions, powers, responsibilities and methods of working, as assigned by legislation and agency protocols. Their close cooperation ensures that children in need of protection receive a timely, appropriate and proportionate response.

Tusla assess and supports the protection needs of the child, while the focus of An Garda Síochána is to preserve life; vindicate the human rights of each individual; and prevent, investigate and detect criminal offences.

The cooperation between the agencies on this matter is provided for by a Joint Working Protocol. This sets out the tasks, roles and obligations of both organisations in relation to each other in matters of child protection.

The protocol identifies two-way formal and informal communication processes between Tusla social workers and Gardaí to record suspected cases of abuse. Where more than one child is involved separate notifications are processed in respect of each child.

In relation to specific cases, social workers and Gardaí may hold strategic liaison meetings as part of their working together. Their joint efforts are designed to ensure that the protection of children receives priority attention.

The joint working collaboration gives An Garda Síochána, through a Tusla social worker, relevant information on the Tusla Child Protection Notification System. This is a list of just under 1,000 children nationally who have an active Tusla led child safety plan. Social workers and Gardaí undergo joint specialist training in interviewing children where there are concerns regarding a sexual assault and, where possible, carry out joint interviews.

A signification step in inter-agency cooperation is the development of Barnahus, a child-friendly, interdisciplinary and multi-agency model of service for children who have been sexually abused. The model establishes a set of principles and operational methodology to facilitate the different agencies working together in a consistent and child centred way. Barnahus provides a single secure location for professional services (therapists, social work, Gardaí, medical and forensic investigation) to support child sex abuse victims and their families.

An Interdepartmental Group (IDG) comprising members from my Department, the Department of Health, Department of Justice, Tusla, HSE, An Garda Síochána, and Children’s Health Ireland is developing Barnahus. A National Agency Steering Committee has been established by the IDG to organise and oversee operational matters associated with the development and management of Barnahus nationally.

A Pilot service was launched in Galway in 2018 and further developed sites are planned for Dublin and Cork in 2021. The centres will develop regional outreach capacity over time. Victims will be met and interviewed by a specially trained social worker and a Garda specialist working together.

It is intended, that the Barnahus and Sexual Assault Treatment Unit services will align where possible to facilitate close working relationship needed in the case of teenage victims requiring a mix of adult (forensic) services and a child protection service.

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