Tusla ‘not consulted as part of child protection review’

Watchdog uncovers failings in emergency care for youngsters

CHILD protection agency Tusla said it was not consulted as part of a damning review into the emergency placing of youngsters into care. The audit by special rapporteur Geoffrey Shannon found evidence of serious failings into how kids are looked after outside normal working hours and how data is recorded on the Garda’s Pulse computer system. The trawl of 5,400 cases over an eight-year period was ordered by the Garda Commissioner Noirin O’sullivan following the Children’s Ombudsman’s inquiry into the removal of two Roma children from their families in 2013 amid unfounded fears they had been abducted. Mr Shannon’s review found gardai are inadequately trained to deal with child protection issues. It said there is poor and limited inter-agency co-ordination, some kids are repeatedly removed from the same families, social work cover outside of normal working hours is inadequate and there are gaps in protection for children with behavioural problems. A spokesman for Tusla said: “We are committed to building on relationships and joint approaches developed with all agencies and organisations. “An Garda Siochana is a crucial partner in child protection and both agencies have distinct functions, powers, responsibilities and methods of working. “Much of the research for this audit was done over the past number of years and collaboration and services have significantly improved since that time.” Tusla also said it works with agencies, families and communities to ensure the needs of each child are met and the best possible outcome is achieved. It added there are many excellent examples at a local level of Tusla staff and gardai working together. The agency said: “Additionally, at a national level, there are regular strategic liaison meetings which facilitate appropriate information sharing.” Tusla also said it was developing a “robust joint working protocol” with Garda management on the use of emergency powers to remove children from families. It added: “This will build on the existing positive relationship, and will provide extensive guidance on a range of issues including: when to invoke Section 12, children at risk during office hours, delivering a child to the custody of Tusla during office hours, delivering a child to the custody of Tusla out of hours.” Tusla said it opened a new emergency out-of-hours service in November 2015 to co-operate with and support gardai dealing with child protection issues.