Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2026
494. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the Government intends that a future national child death review mechanism will publish anonymised national thematic reports and recommendations arising from reviews. [36123/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcomed the publication, in April 2025, of the Ombudsman for Children’s report entitled Child Death Review: The Case for a National Statutory Review Mechanism for the Deaths of Children in Ireland.
The data outlined in the report highlights that deaths of children in care are a small subset of the overall number of child deaths occurring in the State. There is no single body, at this time, which is responsible for the review of all child deaths at national level.
Additionally, the current Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish a national child Death Review Mechanism on a statutory basis.
Engagement with colleagues across Government to identify the most appropriate lead organisation continues.
In this context, it is not possible, at this time, to share specific measures relating to the establishment of a National Child Death Review Mechanism.
