Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
921. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the safeguards in place to ensure that emergency child protection applications made by Tusla are based solely on verified and contemporaneous evidence; whether her Department has assessed the impact of later-withdrawn or incorrect allegations on District Court decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9373/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra928. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department collects and publishes aggregate data on withdrawn allegations, failed emergency applications, or post-hoc corrections in Tusla child protection cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9381/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 921 and 928 together.
The Department receives monthly and quarterly Performance and Activity Reports from Tusla which are published by Tusla on its website.
The Tusla Performance and Activity Reporting site and associated Data Catalogue are both key elements of improved capability for Tusla Data Management and have been implemented to facilitate open data and data management developments in Tusla.
Tusla has a statutory obligation to safeguard children under the Child Care Act, 1991. Section 3 of the Child Care Act 1991 places a statutory responsibility on Tusla to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection.
Tusla has a statutory duty to respond to reports of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. In cases where a report is withdrawn, Tusla will consider the context of any withdrawn report as part of the wider assessment. Tusla assesses the information received and the child and family’s situation and provides appropriate social work intervention and family support services.
Where necessary, and as a last resort, children are received into the care of Tusla.
Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children has been the national guidance for social workers, professionals, organisations, and individuals to help keep children safe and protected from harm.
Tusla Social Work Practitioners are guided in their practice by a suite of policies and procedures that include: practice guidance, protocols, court guidance, handbooks and guidelines to assist in their daily work of safeguarding children.
Social Work Practitioners carry out assessments of children in line with Tusla Standard Business Process which is an integrated child protection and welfare system to look after every child and manage every case from first contact through to closure of a case. Tusla practitioners apply their professional knowledge and expertise to carry out assessments on all allegations of abuse regarding children to determine risk posed to children and plan accordingly.
Tusla have robust governance structures in place to ensure oversight of all services provided by the agency in protecting children and supporting families.
