LAST UPDATE | 3 Sep

MINISTER FOR CHILDREN Norma Foley has said that the CEO of Tusla has committed to conducting a “wellbeing check” on all of the agency’s cases, beginning with cases that were closed. 

It comes as gardaí are continuing a search in Donabate for a young boy who is presumed dead. 

The boy would now be seven years old and has not been seen in several years. His identity has not been released. 

Yesterday evening, child and family agency Tusla confirmed that it had previous contact with the boy and his family, “at the request of the family”. This contact ceased in 2020.

The agency raised concerns with gardaí on Friday last week after it received new information regarding the boy. 

Questions have been raised about Tusla following last year’s similar case concerning Kyran Durnin, from Co Louth. A murder investigation into his disappearance was launched in October.

Speaking at the launch of the new national disability strategy this afternoon, Foley said she “absolutely” has confidence in Tusla and is meeting with them on an ongoing basis. 

She acknowledged the “phenomenal work” that the agency’s staff does across the country, but said that “we need to be assured and reassured”. 

Independent review

Tusla are conducting a rapid review in relation to the case, with the National Review Panel conducting a separate independent review. 

Foley said she has asked the panel to conduct the review as “a priority”, and she has also asked them to extend their review to “any other state organisations or groups” who may have had contact with the boy. The review will also examine whether there are “systemic issues that might be arising”. 

I find this hugely, hugely disturbing that we have a child who is missing, and I think that that is shared right across the country.

Foley also said that the CEO of the Child and Family Agency has also agreed to undertake a wellbeing check “on all cases, in particular in relation to children during Covid-19, particularly beginning with cases that were closed”.

“I know for a variety of reasons cases can close at different times, they can also reopen, but specifically for cases that have closed, that they would do a wellbeing check on those children, and Tusla has agreed to do that.”

Foley said she was “very conscious of the Covid period” and what happened during the pandemic.

“I want to be assured that where a case was closed, and I absolutely accept in so many instances, we would embrace that as such a positive, that a case was closed. But given the nature of the time of Covid-19, I’ve asked for this wellbeing check to be done.” 

She added that she has always committed to acting on whatever recommendations are made by the National Review Panel, and that in this case, “we will act upon those recommendations”. 

Warning against blaming Tusla

Speaking at same event, Taoiseach Michéal Martin reiterated comments he made on his way into Cabinet this morning and cautioned against the “tendency to almost immediately” apportion blame to Tusla. 

He said that very significant safeguards and funding have been put in place in relation to Tusla, but that the pressures on the agency “are enormous”.

“I think we need to be careful not to be jumping to conclusions. People working in Tusla are working flat out, working with the best interests of the public and children in mind,” he said.

“It is very shocking that two children in our society have now gone missing, presumed dead. That is shocking, and that is something not only that we have to reflect on and see are our existing mechanisms appropriate, but I think the focus now has to be on the Garda investigation coming to a conclusion.”

Martin said the case must be examined in its totality in order to “draw the proper, informed, evidence based conclusions from this, and then adopt the proper response in terms of policies”.

“But there has been a tendency in political discourse in recent years that… it’s almost a hostility to Tusla. I witness it in the Dáil, that Tusla is at fault for everything.

“I don’t believe that’s fair. That’s all I’m saying. I think we need to be careful not to jump into premature conclusions around that.”

This morning, he said Tusla has issued a statement relating to its engagement with the child and the family, adding that “what is important now” is that the gardaí can bring the investigation to a conclusion quickly.

“It is very, very distressing when a child goes missing in this manner, without anyone being aware in authority and also in the context of a child losing their life. It is the second such case now and that is concerning.”

Oireachtas committee on children

Keira Keogh, chair of Oireachtas committee on children, said this evening that the committee are “eager” to speak with Tusla over their handling of the case, as well as the disappearance of Kyran Durnin.

However, she said it is not permitted to question the child and family agency on live investigations, which both cases currently are.

“I am heartbroken and horrified that two children are missing, presumed dead in Ireland. I want the answers to the questions we all have,” she told The Journal this evening.

“I’m sure the committee would be eager to speak to Tusla once live investigations are complete,” she added.

Keogh said the committee may seek an update from Tusla by written submission.

If they meet, committee members may ask questions of Tusla and seek updates to procedures, policies and statistics.

“We may also need to look at more broader questions around child protection and how we are following a child through their early years,” she added.

Search

Gardaí have cordoned off an area nearby The Gallery apartments in Donabate, Co Dublin, where the boy is last known to have resided. Residents yesterday told The Journal of their shock as gardaí searched the area.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly yesterday told reporters that gardaí have been unable to either locate the boy or find any evidence that he is still alive. 

Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Children, TD Claire Kerrane, has called for an urgent review into cases closed by Tusla in light of the revelation that the missing boy was known to the agency.

Describing the case as “deeply worrying and disturbing”, Kerrane said that although the priority is the ongoing investigation, there needs to be a “look-back mechanism” where a welfare officer revisits closed cases to ensure the child is being looked after. 

“We need to know that no other child has fallen through the system,” she said.

With reporting from Jane Moore and Sophie Finn