Child and Family Agency
Dail Éireann — 2025-11-12
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Norma Foley (FF), Kerry

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which is of the deepest concern to everybody, both in the Government and across the House. All of us have been greatly saddened by recent cases that have been highlighted. On the questions that the Deputy raised, Tusla has completed its work on the well-being check. This will be overseen by a steering group, which will be entirely independent of Tusla. The purpose of the well-being welfare check is to proactively test and strengthen the current safety net the State provides for children's welfare and protection and to provide assurances about the welfare of vulnerable children. The well-being welfare check is going to focus on cases that were closed to child protection services during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns and relates to cases where there has been no further contact with the child since the cases were closed. Often, it is a real positive when a case can be closed. On other occasions, a case can be reopened. The check will be overseen by an independent steering group chaired by Ms Tanya Ward, the CEO of the Children's Rights Alliance.
I can confirm to Deputy Farrelly that phase 1 of the project is under way and that a number of steps have been taken. The membership of the steering group is now finalised and includes representatives from my Department and the Departments of Social Protection; Health; Education and Youth; and Justice, Home Affairs and Migration; along with representatives from the HSE; the Central Statistics Office; Tusla and Barnardos and an independent social work expert. Engagements have taken place with other Government Departments to explore opportunities for appropriate data-sharing use to establish where the children encompassed by this review are currently or recently known to a relevant State service or State-funded service. A national lead has been appointed and a well-being check project team manager has also been appointed. A digital case management system is in place to support the work of the teams.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-11-12/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-21T01:01:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-11-12