Overnight camps could be over for Scouts

TUSLA has said that Scouting Ireland should consider ending overnight camping trips until concerns over the organistaion’s policy to safeguard children from abuse are fully addressed.

The child and family agency was joined by Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone who said that families should not send their children on camps without guarantees of trained and vetted adult supervision.

She said: ‘Parents should seek assurances that no overnight trips take place without adequate numbers of trained supervisors.

‘Scouting Ireland must ensure that each of these supervisors knows the exact steps to take if a child comes to them with a concern or if something happens. Parents who seek these assurances and ask sensible questions are behaving reasonably and responsibly,’ she added.

Ms Zappone told the Dáil there had to be an ‘immediate review’ of supervision at the body. ‘Scouting Ireland needs a more robust framework of – and guidelines for – supervision when volunteers are with the children,’ Ms Zappone insisted.

Alan Farrell TD, chairman of the Dáil children’s committee, said he had lost confidence in Scouting Ireland, adding that he was taking his seven-year-old son out of the scouts, cancelling plans to let him shortly go on a two-night trip.

‘As a parent I have lost confidence . . . My son will not be attending until the matter has been resolved,’ he told RTÉ Radio.

It follows a report in December by safeguarding expert Ian Elliott, who identified 313 alleged victims and 237 alleged abusers in Scouting Ireland from the 1960s through the 1990s.

Ms Zappone told the Dáil: ‘Tusla has written to Scouting Ireland highlighting serious concerns about that organisation.’

She said that eight recommendations had been made by child safety experts to the chief executive of Scouting Ireland, including the convening of a meeting of the board, and giving ‘consideration’ to a possible ‘compromise’ of key personnel in the organisation. Ms Zappone said: ‘I believe that parents have a right to know the views of those who are charged with protecting and safeguarding our children.’

Scouting Ireland said last night that safeguarding was front and centre of all its operations.

It said: ‘We have fully co-operated with Tusla and the Garda and have informed them of all we are doing to make sure that Scouting Ireland is safer than it has ever been for our children and volunteers.’

Tusla is to open a helpline on 086 604 0337 allowing parents and children to report on safety concerns between the hours of 10am and 4pm.