Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
991. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures in place to ensure that all unaccompanied minors receive an immediate trafficking vulnerability assessment upon entering care [39582/26]
View answerChildren in the care of the State are some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. The Department and Tusla are committed to promoting safe and high-quality practice in all areas of alternative care, including in relation to protecting this vulnerable cohort from the risk of sexual exploitation and child trafficking. A Child Trafficking Vulnerability Assessment is essential for front-line professionals to identify child victims of human trafficking, evaluate their immediate risk, and connect them with child welfare and protection services.
The Child Sexual Exploitation Procedure was developed in 2021 to assist Tusla social workers, care workers in recognising indicators of child sexual exploitation, making appropriate referrals where such concerns exist and responding to cases where children may be at risk of sexual exploitation. The procedure sets out the pathways for reporting concerns of child sexual exploitation to An Garda Síochána, for children who are in the care of Tusla, under Operation Cosnaím, and for children who reside in a community setting, through the local Garda District. As part of “Operation Cosnaím” all concerns of suspected child trafficking and/or child sexual exploitation regarding a child who is in the care of Tusla, must be notified to a centralised point in the Garda National Protective Services Bureau.
Since early 2022, Tusla has partnered with MECPATHS, a non - profit organisation which focuses specifically on the issue of child trafficking in Ireland. This collaboration is intended to raise awareness and provide front-line staff across Tusla services with training on Child Trafficking in Ireland, thus increasing the agency’s capacity to respond to this evolving area of need. Over 1,000 Tusla staff, including those working in State Care including Residential Care, Fostering and Adoption, intake and duty, and the Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children’s Team (SCSIP Service) have participated in MECPATHS workshops. Staff have also been provided with access to useful resources through the MECPATHS website, is to aid in the identification of suspected trafficking. The MECPATHS training is ongoing this year. Very recently, I met with MECPATHS to discuss their important and vital work and to discuss concerns around child trafficking.
The Department and Tusla have previously met with An Garda Síochána on child human trafficking and labour exploitation and the implementation of the National Referral Mechanism under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024. This Act places the identification and protection of victims of human trafficking on statutory footing and expands the number of bodies that can identify a victim beyond An Garda Síochána. The National Referral Mechanism is a framework through which States fulfil their obligations to protect and promote the human rights of trafficking victims, working in partnership with civil society. Ireland’s new National Referral Mechanism will make it easier for victims of trafficking to come forward, be identified and access advice, accommodation, and support. The National Referral Mechanism, which is yet to commence, will name Tusla as a ‘Competent Authority.’ The establishment of the National Referral Mechanism and the timeframe for its implementation, rests with the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
In relation to child trafficking and exploitation, coordination and co-operation, across Government and in the best interests of children, is essential.
