Tusla shouldn't be responsible for child protection - TD brings Dáil motion
Vivienne Clarke
Child protection responsibility should be removed from Tusla and returned to direct ministerial and departmental control, a TD has said.
Independent Ireland TD for Cork North Central Ken O’Flynn will put a motion that calls for this change in onus before the Dáil on Thursday.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, O'Flynn said "I think it would have somebody finally taking responsibility.”
“We've heard warnings coming continuously about Tusla, about the regulation of Tusla.
"We've heard the warnings coming from the courts. We've heard the warnings coming from independent reports and inspections.
O'Flynn said that inspections have "repeatedly identified serious deficiencies" in child protection services.
"Enough is enough here. There's something wrong," O'Flynn said.
He said that there are "some fabulous people working in Tusla", but that "quite often [he] would be interacting... with front-line workers on that, and they'll tell you straight out in conversations how frustrating and how difficult it is.”
O’Flynn said there seemed to be a problem with administrative oversight and persistent difficulties getting to the heart of issues affecting vulnerable children.
“So I suppose really what we're doing in the motion is we're putting together a full structure. We're not asking for it to be closed down tomorrow. We're asking for a 24-month roll-down. We're asking for a White Paper on the document, and we're asking that the government introduces best standards and practices.
“I don't believe, and I don't think most people believe at this stage, including members of the judiciary, that this is fit for purpose.”
O’Flynn added that there appeared to be a policy of introducing new bodies taking responsibility from ministerial departments “so ministers can't be blamed" and "ministers can wash their hands of it”.
The big problem with Tusla, he said, when it had been formed was because it was under “so many different departments”.
"We're saying produce the White Paper, give us the best standards and practices... if something is wrong with the structure, in particular when you're talking about the most vulnerable of society protecting our children, then we have to get that right.
"Not just for the protection of children, but for those staff as well that are involved."
