Departmental Reports

Tuesday, 18 June 2024

Questions (64)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

64. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary No. 119 of 30 April 2024, the status of the research jointly funded by his Department and Tusla into the area of organisational and institutional abuse of children, including children placed in residential care settings; the expected timeline for the research to be completed; the details of the external researcher commissioned to carry out the research; if he has received any updates or interim reports to-date from the researcher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26067/24]

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Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department and the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) continue to take the issue of potential Child Sexual Exploitation very seriously and are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care, including working with An Garda Síochána as required.

I can confirm that following a successful research tendering process Quality Matters have been awarded the research contract, which as previously advised is jointly commissioned by Tusla and DCEDIY.

The aim of the research is to generate a robust evidence base to inform Tusla’s policy and practice developments and to assist in it’s deliberations and decision making about how Tusla responds to and intervenes in the institutional, organisational, and organised abuse of children and young people.

The researchers are currently undertaking the Literature Review work and it is expected that a draft of the research findings will be available to the Working Group in Autumn 2024.