THE CEO OF Tusla has said that the organisation will conduct wellbeing checks on 38,000 children after a request from the Minister for Children. 

It comes as Gardaí are continuing to search waste round near Donabate as part of their investigation into a missing boy who is feared dead. 

The child and family agency has been ordered by Children’s Minister Norma Foley to undertake ‘wellbeing checks’ on the agency’s cases that were closed around the time of the Covid-19 lockdowns

Earlier this week, Tusla confirmed that it had previous contact with the boy and his family, “at the request of the family”. This contact ceased in 2020.

Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One today, Tusla chief Kate Duggan said the figure of 38,000 is based on “the number of children whose cases were closed to Tusla between 2020 to 2021, and where there hasn’t been any subsequent engagement or new referral of information”. 

“I think it’s really important to put that in context,” she said.

“We know that we’re we’re predicted to receive over 105,000 referrals this year in Tusla. We know, based on our patterns of referral and the types of referrals we receive, that about three quarters of those cases are not related to child protection.”

She said those cases are related to things like parents seeking support and advice, or access to universal family support services or parenting support services.

Duggan said Tusla will prioritise and categorise that number of 38,000 children, and establishing things like whether they are in education or if they are accessing services.

“It’ll take us probably another two to three days to finalise the scope of how we do that, and then that will give a much better indication in terms of how that would happen,” she said. 

She added that she had asked the Department to appoint an independent chair to oversee the wellbeing checks process.

“I think that would give families, it would give the public, it would give government better confidence in making sure that there’s an external assurance over how that process is conducted.”

Asked if Tusla has the resources to do this, Duggan acknowledged that the number of cases is large and that some of the cases may be more complex. 

“We will have to prioritise the work within the agency. It is not necessarily that this will have to be done by social workers. It’s about establishing, firstly, that this child is accounted for, that the family are accounted for, that they’re accessing services like HSE, like education, and in teasing out the scope of that.”

She also welcomed “the conversations we’re having now about the spotlight being placed on child protection services” and “on members of the public understanding the scale of referrals we’ve received, and the concerns that are out there about children”. 

Justice Minister

Earlier today, the Justice Minister said that the current missing child case in Donabate and the continuing investigation into the Kyran Durnin case raise concerns for Tusla’s work -  but he has advised caution in blaming the agency. 

Jim O’Callaghan echoed the Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s call to not “jump to conclusions” ahead of the conclusion of the Donabate investigation.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio, O’Callaghan outlined his perspective on the issues involved. 

He admitted that he had concerns regarding the two high-profile cases and other incidents involving Tusla but advised caution. He also said that he has talked to the Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly about the specific case.

“We should really await the outcome of what is a very sensitive and difficult investigation.

“I was speaking to the Garda Commissioner yesterday in respect of this, obviously, the Gardaí are following a very definite line of inquiry from information they have received, and I think we should await the outcome of the Garda investigation before we start jumping to conclusions in respect of Tusla.

“A child died and was being buried secretly, that is a very serious issue, but, primary responsibility for that rests with the individuals who did it.

“I’m conscious as well – there will be issues in respect of Tusla, and Minister Foley has asked for a review in respect of the issues you’ve identified, but let’s wait until the investigation proceeds a bit further before we start jumping to conclusions,” he said. 

O’Callaghan did admit that he feels there will be a need for Tusla to address the problematic situation around child protection but he said that it is for the future. 

“That is concerning, but when you’re dealing with situations like this, you need to get all the information, and we don’t have all the information yet, in respect of the child who’s been searched for in Donabate. So let’s just wait for the outcome of that.

“I think there may be questions down the line for Tusla – before we start jumping to conclusions or asking questions let’s get all the information.

“It’s a developing story, and gardaí are doing very difficult work, but it’s important that concludes before we start jumping to conclusions,” he added.