Government must do more to protect children

• Missing children cases serve as a reminder of the urgent need to safeguard children.
• Root and branch review of child protection services needed.

Labour Leader Ivana Bacik TD has responded to troubling news reports about the welfare of children in Ireland, calling for a renewed focus on safeguarding children and children’s rights.

Deputy Bacik, TD for Dublin Bay South, said,

“I am deeply concerned about the case of a missing child in north Dublin. It is a year since another young child, Kyran Durnin, was also reported missing to Gardaí. My thoughts are with the families and all those impacted by these tragic situations. I echo the appeals of Gardaí for full cooperation with their investigations.

“These troubling cases serve to remind us of systemic issues concerning the protection of children and the State’s approach to children’s rights more generally. We know that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is under significant pressure to deliver in an under-resourced system, with nearly 100,000 referrals a year and almost 6,000 children in care. The shortage of social workers and social care workers must be addressed, through increased resourcing, workforce planning, and better terms and working conditions.

“Labour believes there needs to be a root and branch review of child protection services and a new strategy mapped out to address deficits in care. This new strategy should include provision of a detailed five-year funding programme, underpinned by a statutory guarantee to ensure commitment of the necessary level of resources to child protection.”