I propose to take Questions Nos. 845, 888, 889, 890 and 891 together.
On the 22nd of June 2023, the UCD Sexual Exploitation Research Programme (SERP) published a report, “Protecting Against Predators: A Scoping Study on the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Young People in Ireland.’ This scoping report sought to establish the level of awareness of child sexual abuse amongst key stakeholders from across a variety of sectors.
The Department and 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 and other bodies as required.
It should be noted that this report was not commissioned by the Department or Tusla, however, Officials in the Department reviewed the findings and recommendations of the report immediately following its publication, in the context of wider consideration of the issue of child sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking.
Officials and their counterparts in Tusla continue to work closely on the safeguarding framework for all children in care to ensure that it continues to be sufficiently robust to protect children from evolving risks.
Prior to the publication of the report, the Department and Tusla established a Working Group looking at institutional and organisational abuse. It was decided that external research was required to provide the Working Group with definitional clarification of abuse categories. The contract was awarded to an external research provider in January 2024. This report will shortly be published on Tusla’s website. Tusla will now move onto next stage of developing procedures/a guide to address the key issue of how best to respond to organisational/organised abuse. As part of this process, if gaps are identified that Tusla cannot address within existing powers, they will highlight these to the Department. The report will also be taken into account as relevant to Department’s review of Children First National Guidance.
The Department did not establish a new cross-departmental or inter-agency oversight group to coordinate the State response to the SERP report, given the existence of the previously mentioned working group.
The recommendations in the SERP report cover the areas of policy, training, resourcing, education and research. They also cut across a number of bodies, namely the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, the Department of Education and Youth, An Garda Síochána, Tusla and HIQA. All of these organisations are currently progressing work in these areas. As such, no new implementation plan was developed.
In addition, I can advise the Deputy that following the publication of the SERP report:
• The previous Minister engaged with the authors of the report, and officials have engaged with Tusla to ensure that any child protection concerns outlined in the report are being followed up, including in respect of any necessary reports to An Garda Síochána.
• Tusla has liaised with An Gardaí Síochána in relation to the findings of the report.
• All staff in residential centres for the care of children have undergone Children First training, which provides guidance for the protection and welfare of children.
• A Principal Social Worker from Tusla has been seconded to the Garda National Protective Service Bureau (GNPSB) for a number of years.
• Tusla has established an anti-trafficking working group in readiness for the Department of Justice's National Action Plan for Human Trafficking which includes the area of child sexual exploitation.
• The Department is leading an inter-departmental group on the national implementation of Barnahus, which is a multi-agency approach to the provision of forensic medical intervention and therapeutic services to children subject to child sexual abuse.
• 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. Tusla responds to all reports of sexual abuse promptly to ensure children are safeguarded. An Garda Síochána will deal with any criminal aspects of cases alleging abuse under the relevant criminal justice legislation.
• Tusla has partnered with MECPATHS, a non - profit organisation which focuses specifically on the issue of child trafficking in Ireland. MECPATHS has been delivering ‘Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS): Shining a light on Child Trafficking in Ireland’ training to Tusla since late 2022. 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. To date over 900 staff, including those working in Residential Care, Fostering and Adoption, intake and duty, and the Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children’s Team (SCSIP Service) have participated in MECPATHS workshops. This training continues in 2026.
• The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024 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. Presently, An Garda Síochána are the only statutory Competent Authority. Tusla continues to work with Department of Justice and others on preparing for the implementation of the Act and the upcoming National Referral Mechanism which will see Tusla acquire new legal duties and responsibilities under its function as a Competent Authority. Other Competent Authorities will include the An Garda Síochána, Health Service Executive, Workplace Relations Commission, Department of Justice and others.
