Colm Brophy
Dublin South-West · Fine Gael · Ireland
“The Minister has outlined very clearly our intention in relation to this matter. We have always been very clear that the ARP would be a temporary provision. It was introduced in 2022 as a response to a crisis, always with the view that it would be phased out. That remains the case.”
“It is important to look at the ARP in the context of what is happening here. We are reducing the payment back to the original rate in order to fulfil the original intention. We thank the people for the generosity they showed in opening their homes to Ukrainians who came to live with us here in Ireland.”
“It is important, as the Minister has mentioned, to recognise and thank all of the people who participated in the scheme, and to recognise the work of the Irish Red Cross and the many people who have made the scheme a success. We recognise that there are difficulties with schemes, and that is why this one has been under constant review.”
“What we want to work towards is a solution which recognises that contribution and which examines how, in the longer term, we can work with the Ukrainian people in our country and with the Government of Ukraine in order to ensure that a pathway exists for them to either continue to live here or, if they so choose, to return home.”
“lreland ratified the convention on International Women's Day, 8 March 2019. Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence 2022-2026 is structured around the four pillars of the convention, namely, prevention, protection, prosecution and policy co-ordination.”
“Some of the treaty provisions relate to the justice sphere and, therefore, Title V of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. In light of Ireland’s position under Protocol 21, the court determined that two decisions were necessary, one to cover areas coming within scope of Protocol 21 where an opt-in is required and another t…”
The complete record
Every one of 783 lines we hold for Colm Brophy, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 7 of 16.
“As I indicated in my initial response, we have seen very significant reductions in processing times. The objective is to try to provide that service within as tight a 12-month timeframe as we can. We will continue to do that. As I mentioned, there will always be individual cases where that is not the case. In the context of a significant increase in the number making applications in recent years, we have seen the processing time decrease in the handling of that increased volume. I would like to put on record that this is a result of the excellent work being done by the staff in that area in the Department. They are based in Tipperary and do an excellent job in processing these applications.”
“The Department is always planning ahead and looking at that. We have put, as I said, additional resources in place. I do not believe additional backlogs will come in. Every effort is made. As I know people will listen to this, I reiterate that no two applications are the same. Some individual applications that come in take considerably longer, particularly in relation to checks that have to be done by An Garda Síochána, which are outside our direct control in terms of reply lines. That leads to a frustration where people ask why their application is taking X amount of time compared with those from others. As a general rule, the Department is working towards a processing time of within 12 months for applications coming in.”
“However, it is important to note that no two naturalisation applications are the same and some take longer than others to process. It is important the citizenship process be robust and comprehensive. Checks are carried out on each application. Unfortunately some of the international checks can take considerable time and this is largely outside of the control of the Department. I am sure the Deputy receives, as I and many others in this House do, receive representations on that. For that reason, while I expect going forward more applicants will receive a decision within one year, it cannot be guaranteed.”
“This is a significant improvement from the median processing time of 15 months in 2023, 19 in 2022 and 24 in 2021. The Department has taken a significant number of steps to speed up the process for applicants. These included introducing an online digital application, online payments and the introduction of evetting. This digitisation has facilitated a record number of citizenship decisions made last year. In just over two years, my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications in 2023, more than 31,000 decisions in 2024 and over 32,500 to end October 2025. I assure everyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted to the citizenship division that the Department is doing everything to progress it.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question and his remarks. Earlier this week I was delighted to attend the citizenship ceremonies held in Killarney along with the Ministers of State, Deputies Collins and Buttimer. It is a wonderful ceremony to go to. We had 5,200 new Irish citizens there. Last year the number of naturalisation applications received by the Department was 27,032. Separately, the number of people who received a letter of approval was 29,868 and 187 were refused. Despite the substantial increase in applications received in recent years, the fact processing times have significantly reduced is a huge credit to the work of the Department and the staff in that particular area. The median processing time for a decision on an application in 2024 was eight months.”
“It is also there to ensure that people have the right to come here and work and help us in every way to support our economy and develop our communities. I believe it is going to be a key part of the new modern Ireland, which we all live in and which we all want to see. I thank Senators again for their contributions. They are very much appreciated.”
“The integration fund, for which I have responsibility, supports organisations to carry out integration projects at national, regional and local level. Last week, I announced 117 community-based projects, which received 3.6 million in funding under the project. I am conscious of time. There are a couple of other things I would like to mention. We need to build on and develop a good, wider understanding of migration in order for us all to be able to discuss it and to take part in debates on it. The Government will not oppose the motion as put forward, but does not accept the amendment proposed by Senator Keogan. I am pleased to have come here today to outline the measures the Government has put in place to ensure our rules-based immigration system is firm, fair, effective, robust, enforced and humane. It is there to protect our borders.”
“These operations, including the doorstop operations at airports, have significantly reduced the number of people arriving without documentation, and reduced it by up to 54% in 2024. On integration, which is very important, the system is not just about faster processing and being more effective; we must have an integration system which measures those who have been granted permission to remain in the State. As such, I am pleased to be investing in a range of measures relating to integration, including community-led initiatives. A range of supports and services are provided through IPAS. There is also a range of supports and services provided to local community groups to help with integration. It is very important that integration remains a key part of how we look at this issue.”
“It is the preferred option, though, and I always make this point because it is the most cost-effective and cheapest, to have people go through voluntary return and to make this available to people, and we will continue to do so. Already this year, 1,393 people have availed of this option. The Department is developing a broader security strategy to deliver stronger border security, ensuring technology supports and enhanced border screening. The strategy is reviewing the potential of extending pre-clearance mechanisms, such as electronic travel authorisation, for travel to designated third countries. There is ongoing work with the airlines on ensuring passengers have the appropriate documentation when boarding.”
“When somebody has a right to work and they are here in the State working after six months because they are entitled to do so, and going through IPAS, they should make a contribution towards their accommodation, in the same way as the person standing beside them working in the shop, the factory or the high-tech business makes a contribution towards their accommodation when they go home in the evening. It is all about fairness. The motion calls for enhanced border control and fast removals. I assure the House that we wholeheartedly agree with this. The Department has taken action to significantly improve immigration enforcement, with 4,200 deportation orders signed this year. We have also used charter flights to bolster our capacity, and An Garda Síochána to enforce a greater number of deportation orders.”
“The creation of the core supply of State-owned accommodation for emergency and permanent options will also allow us more strategic direct accommodation types in the future. As called for in the motion, a proposal for the contribution model for people in international protection will be brought to the Government next week. It is something I very strongly believe in. This is not designed to solve how IPAS is paid for. It is designed out of fairness.”
“I assure Members that this is exactly what we want to do. We are moving away from private provision of accommodation. We have made a range of changes, such as bringing in new rate cards and lowering the amount we are paying. We have moved, where we can, to look at State-owned accommodation. We are driving real changes. We have been driving €52 million worth of changes since May of this year. This is the type of real change we have brought into the system. IPAS regularly engages with centres all around the country to ensure there is compliance with contracts and standards, with a dual eye on the safety of the residents while also ensuring value for money. In 2025, there have been 25 terminations of contracts due to compliance issues. We are making real changes in how we manage the IPAS system.”
“I have outlined the Government’s priorities in various areas, but one area in particular, on which we are very much focused, is the processing of applications speedily and saving money on accommodation. The majority of the International Protection Office's commercial, emergency accommodation was commissioned as part of the emergency response to the increased demand that came about in 2022. Approximately 45,000 people arrived and applied for international protection during the period 2022 to 2024. That almost matches the total number of applications during the previous 16 years. It also coincided with the Ukraine invasion, which saw an additional 120,000 people arrive. The motion urges the Government to continue to improve value for money in accommodation and move away from relying on private providers to State-owned accommodation.”
“That means enabling swifter and more just outcomes. We are following closely the recent changes to the UK asylum practices and laws. We are aware that they have the potential to result in changes to the flow of asylum seekers between the UK and Ireland. I thought the way in which the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, was quoted was very misleading. The Minister and I are working to ensure, working with our UK counterparts, that we have a balanced system between the two countries, recognising we have an open and common border and making sure that we look at what they are doing, they look at what we are doing and that we keep it equal in terms of people choosing where to come in to make a claim of international protection, as they are entitled to do.”
“The asylum border procedure will tackle the issue of people destroying their documents. There will be a 12-week time limit, as I mentioned, for first-instance appeals decisions to be completed. We are also going to move to make sure we have a system in place as we build up to the introduction of the migration pact in June 2026, which will mirror some of this, in order that we will be able to deliver it. Through opting in to the EU migration and asylum pact, Ireland has shown its commitment to a common, EU-wide solution to migration. The pact is a landmark in our collective efforts to manage migration with fairness and in a compassionate way. I emphasise border protection while upholding international law. That is crucial. It allows us to distinguish between those who are in genuine need of protection and those who do not qualify.”
“The pact will provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. It is vitally important to recognise that one of the key parts of the pact is to do what so many Senators mentioned, namely, to have a 12-week system for the majority of people. That is fairer to people who are in the system and fairer to the system itself, our country and our communities. It directly recognises and addresses the type of situation that is not right, where people are in the system for years, which leaves them in limbo and takes too long. This pact will be achieved through the convergence of asylum practices right across the EU, including standardised processing times for decisions. As I say, the aim is to get those times down to three months. The motion calls for accelerated processing.”
“There has been a significant increase in investment in the international protection system, which, combined with the digitisation process and the re-engineering, has facilitated a major increase in processing capacity. In 2024, international protection delivered more than 14,000 first decisions, compared with just 8,523 in 2023, while the international appeals process closed some 3,100 appeals in 2024, compared with 1,700 in 2023. In 2025 to the end of quarter 3, there has been a 51% increase in the total number of first decisions compared with the same period in 2024. IPAS has also increased the number of appeals. My Department continues to focus on preparing us for the EU migration and asylum pact in advance of June 2026. As noted in the motion, Ireland officially opted in to the pact following votes in both the Dáil and Seanad.”
“The customer experience will improve through the aligning of this online information and introducing a single payment model also. The steps will simplify the process for people and a common application platform will be developed. This initiative is designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of our economy and support and recognise the vitally important contribution made, as we have all talked about and I have just outlined, by legal migrants in so many areas. I draw attention to the priority that has been given to the modernisation programme within the International Protection Office because it has been alluded to in some of the contributions. It is very important we take the opportunity, in much as possible, to talk about this. It speaks directly to calls in the motion for investment in faster processing. What has been happening?”
“My Department continues to make great gains in improving the operational aspect of immigration processing through modernisation efforts. It allows Ireland to welcome and support the entry of migrant workers. The motion rightly notes just how sizeable the number of migrant workers that bolster our economy is. One example of our work to streamline this system is our plan to introduce a single permit to both work and live in Ireland. Currently, employer permits, visa applications and residency permits are all processed separately. A detailed plan is being developed to unify these systems. An implementation team is working to introduce that one single permit. It will make a big difference. In the short term, steps are being taken to streamline the process so that information requests and checks are not duplicated.”
“I am not going to repeat what the Senators said but, in all honesty, if we did not have people coming here to make their incredible contribution, the emergency services, the services in our hospitals and the construction of the homes we need, which get talked about something that has to be provided, would all be impacted. The strategy will be the first of its kind in Ireland. It is being led by my Department, with support from across government. We plan to publish it in 2026. Of course, alongside the strategy sits operations, and to meet the opportunities that immigration presents, we need an immigration system that is efficient and customer friendly in order to attract and retain the talent that comes here through those legal pathways we have talked about.”
“The motion called for a new migration and integration strategy for Ireland and I am happy to report that strategy is well under way. The strategy will detail how we intend to meet the demands and the opportunity facing our society and economy over the next decade. It will also look at the particular issues raised in the motion regarding how the Government can be responsive to the economic skills needed in our country. As mentioned by many Senators, we have to be cognisant that the vast majority of people who come to our country do so because we need them and we asked them. They come here with visas to work and contribute.”
“The vast majority of Irish people, as mentioned by many speakers, are positive towards migration because they know what the value of migration is to Ireland. It has been mentioned that we are probably unique, in that we are a nation which, for centuries, effectively depended on outward migration, and now we have inward migration. The motion rightly sets out how migration benefits our economy, public services and infrastructure, and has made Ireland a pluralist and more open society. I welcome that so many of the contributions highlighted that this evening. The Government is operating under a clear and co-ordinated strategy to manage immigration in a way that is firm, fair, effective and humane. I am happy to say the Department has made significant progress towards the actions called for in this Private Members' motion.”
“That was a horrible situation for the community to go through also. After that, because of the way these debates can sometimes go, we saw people who used what happened as an opportunity to sow division and try to cause a riot and violence. It is what happens when this type of conversation spills over and people do not care about the impact of their contribution on social media, or of their thoughts or remarks. I acknowledge in particular the work of members of An Garda Síochána, who bravely defended Citywest so well when faced with such appalling behaviour. We put our trust in the justice process to deliver due process over the coming months. Acts of violence and intimidation are utterly unacceptable and stand in direct opposition to the values we hold as a nation.”
“I thank everyone who has contributed to the debate. This is an area, obviously, where a debate can be fought and major issues can develop very quickly into very fraught conversations. I welcome, therefore, the tone and conversation we have had today. Before I go any further, I acknowledge what happens when debates are not like this but, rather, become very heated and spill into the real world. That has a real impact. We saw that during the summer with attacks on part of the Indian community in particular. We saw it in the shocking attack that took place in Drogheda. Your heart would go out to the children and women in accommodation after the experience they had. My thoughts are with all of the people who were affected by that. They are also with the victim of the alleged sexual assault in Saggart.”
“I will absolutely raise this matter with the Minister on the Senator's behalf. I know he has raised it directly with the Minister. The point he made is very valid. This is an unfairness to our local, small, indigenous businesses trying to survive and operate in a market where they are compliant and others have an advantage. It is important that it is looked at as a priority, as the Senator said. I will raise those concerns directly with the Minister.”
“Furthermore, the European Commission is preparing a legislative proposal for a circular economy Act to be published next year. This represents an opportunity for the EU to strengthen enforcement around this issue and the Department will actively support measures proposed to promote fair competition in the EU market.”
“The EPA is responsible for enforcing certain obligations on both distance sellers and distributors under WEEE and batteries regulations and may take a prosecution for a summary offence for failure to comply with regulations. Other approaches, such as a pay-on-behalf model led by a host online platform, also offer opportunities to promote compliance. This is where an online platform, as the Senator indicated, would provide simplified compliance on behalf of their sellers, who may be small producers and perceive the risk of non-compliance as outweighing the benefits of joining a producer responsibility scheme. Producers would collectively delegate EPR registration, reporting and payment obligations to a nominated authorised representative via their online marketplace platform, and would pay their compliance fees to the platform.”
“Online retailers or distance sellers, by virtue of their number and location, present a particular challenge for EPR scheme compliance in Ireland and across the EU. This is a critical issue for EPR. Free-riding distance sellers enjoy a cost advantage over their counterparts who pay their EPR fees. Ensuring a level playing field across different business models is vital for fairness for EU producers. The Department is working with stakeholders and regulators to tackle this issue both systemically and at the level of individual operators. In Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency and local authorities have enforcement roles under the relevant legislation. Those bodies work together and with EPR organisations to ensure compliance in the Irish market and to contribute to the achievement of EU recycling targets.”
“In a circular economy, producers must be held to account for the sustainability of the products they place on the market and EPR schemes are an effective method to achieve this. The Irish compliance schemes for WEEE and batteries are WEEE Ireland and ERP Ireland. The schemes are funded by a combination of producer fees and visible environmental management costs charged on certain items of electrical and electronic equipment. Producer responsibility legislation is designed to ensure producers of relevant goods contribute to the cost of collecting and recycling these goods when they are no longer in use. Ensuring all obligated producers pay their share is critical to the credibility and success of EPR schemes.”
“I thank the Senator. I am obviously taking this opportunity to reply on behalf of the Minister. Over the past two decades Ireland has made significant progress in moving away from disposal as our primary treatment option for waste. Ireland’s national waste action plan for a circular economy provides a roadmap to transition to a circular economy in the decade ahead. One of the key objectives in this action plan includes making producers environmentally accountable for the products they place on the market. Ireland uses the extended producer responsibility, EPR, model to deal with waste streams from electronic and electrical equipment and batteries. This model is based on the producer pays principle.”
“I will again, obviously, convey the Senator's views to the Minister on whose behalf I am replying. In the closing statement the Minister emphasises the process is under way at the moment and assessment and processing is under way. The Department, therefore, has no plans to extend the deadline.”
“As has been mentioned previously, both the online survey launched as the first phase of the scheme in May and the online application system launched as the second phase in July were widely publicised in the farming media to raise the awareness of prospective applicants to the availability of the support scheme. The window to submit applications closed at 5.30 p.m. on 13 August 2025 and, as per the terms and conditions of the scheme, late applications are deemed inadmissible and there are no plans to extend the deadline.”
“In addition, in advance of the closing date the Department issued text message reminders to potential applicants whose applications were still in draft in order to ensure these applications could be submitted. When online applications closed under the scheme there were 1,254 applications submitted. These applications are currently being assessed against the scheme's terms and conditions to determine eligibility. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application when this process has been completed in due course. It is expected payments will be made to successful applicants in early December 2025. The application window for the scheme to support long-established young farmers closed on 13 August and there are no plans to extend the eligibility criteria or to provide for another scheme in future years.”
“The launch of this survey was widely reported in the farming media, both online and in hard copy. Phase 2 saw the opening of online applications under the scheme to support long-established young farmers on 22 July 2025. The online application system remained open for over three weeks and closed on 13 August 2025. This online application required applicants to confirm they met the eligibility criteria under the scheme and to also upload documentation in support of their date of birth and agricultural educational qualifications. As was the case with the online survey launched as the first phase of this scheme, the launch of the online application system was widely reported in the farming media, both online and in hard copy.”
“This definition of forgotten farmer has remained consistent since 2015. Budget 2025 provided an allocation of €5 million to deliver on the programme for Government commitment and in 2025 the Department developed the scheme to support the long-established young farmers to address the commitment in the programme for Government. The scheme was implemented in two phases. Phase 1 saw the opening of an online survey on 7 May 2025 in preparation for a scheme to support long-established young farmers. This survey remained open for submissions for over three weeks until Friday, 30 May 2025 to assist in determining the number of farmers who met the long-standing criteria for forgotten farmers. The survey required participants to indicate they met the qualifying criteria for the proposed scheme.”
“I thank the Senator for raising the matter. As she is aware, there is a commitment in the Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future to "Deliver a scheme that recognises the category of farmers known as the 'Forgotten Farmers'." Since the time the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine was first approached in 2015 with regard to the group commonly referred to as forgotten farmers, the group was defined as young farmers who were under the age of 40 in 2015, had established their holdings prior to 2008, held no or low-value payment entitlements and were ineligible for young farmer supports under the CAP from 2015. The request for support for the forgotten farmer group in 2015 was for inclusion under the basic payment scheme national reserve as a group suffering from specific disadvantage.”
“I will of course relay the Senator's comments to the Minister. I went to a community school in its first year of being a community school, having previously been an Ursuline convent, so I have the benefit of having been educated by four wonderful Ursuline nuns, as part of a greater teaching team, during my time in school. I know that their contribution to education is absolutely outstanding. I will convey these concerns to the Department, on behalf of the Senator.”
“On project roll-out for large-scale projects and additional school accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance, and to provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project roll-out over the course of the 2026-30 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.”
“In addition, repurposing and the optimisation of existing accommodation capacity across the school estate has been a key enabler of timely, local provision of special class capacity in a way that supports best practice in inclusion and integration. Eighty percent of new classes in 2025-26 are being facilitated in repurposed classroom accommodation. In July, the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-30 under the national development plan. As part of this NDP allocation, the Department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs.”
“The project for Ursuline College is currently at stage 2b, post-planning process of the architectural process, which allows for detailed design and planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and preparing tender documents. At this juncture in the project, it is not feasible to give an indicative timeline for delivery. The Department will continue to engage directly with the school authority to provide assistance in regard to the project as required. Since 2020, the Department has invested over €6 billion in schools throughout the country under the national development plan, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it gives me an opportunity to update the House on the current position regarding the major school building project for Ursuline College, Sligo. The project has been devolved to the school board of management for delivery, with the assistance of the joint managerial body. The brief for the project is to provide an extension and refurbishment which will deliver a 750-pupil post-primary school building. The board of management has appointed a design team to design the accommodation being provided through the various stages of architectural planning. Projects progress from stage to stage in accordance with the project brief and the Department's design guidelines.”
“This can occur where applications are submitted late, required documentation is missing or proposals do not meet the programme's guidelines, or there are insufficient applications to fully utilise the funding. In September the Department announced the allocation of Reach funding of over €4.5 million in 2025 for over 700 community projects across Ireland, supporting over 100,000 learners. The planning and delivery of services by ETBs is rightly a matter for each individual board, taking into account their allocated budgets and the specific needs of their local communities. I believe the Senator will agree that it would be neither practical nor appropriate for a Minister to become involved in the day-to-day operational decisions of these autonomous bodies.”
“In terms of the process, at the start of each year SOLAS sets out funding allocations for the Reach fund and guidelines for ETBs for the administration of the funding. These guidelines include details relating to governance, funding categories, how the funding process should operate and reporting requirements. For the 2025 call for the Reach fund, SOLAS issued allocations to ETBs for the fund for just over €5 million. It should be noted that this figure represents an allocation rather than guaranteed expenditure. While €5 million was available for Reach in 2025, only €4.5 million worth of projects met the eligibility criteria and are being funded. In some cases, the full allocation is not disbursed or drawn down.”
“Over the years, the fund has helped to tackle inequalities and support access to vital community education. A fundamental goal of the Department, and indeed the Government, is to promote access, collaboration and innovation in community education. The fund places a strong focus on community education as a mechanism to continue to support and engage with disadvantaged learners. It is open to community and youth education groups to apply for funding through their local ETB. Cork Education and Training Board, the Senator's local ETB, is investing over €500,000 in nearly 45,000 learners in projects right across the area, including a Ballyhoura Development CLG project titled "Empower to employ: Bridging Educational gaps for Job Readiness", which is helping Ukrainian migrants, among others, to prepare for employment.”
“I thank the Senator for the opportunity to allow me, on behalf of the Minister, to clarify this situation concerning the Reach fund in 2025. The Reach fund is a dedicated fund to support the most disadvantaged learners to access education and training provided by ETBs and community education providers. Investment in community education increased by 52% from 2018 to 2024, from nearly €11 million in 2018 to nearly €17 million in 2024. In recent years this investment has been bolstered by the introduction of the Reach fund. Introduced in 2020, the fund assists ETBs to increase their capacity and that of community education providers to address the decline in participation of disadvantaged learners, particularly those on literacy and basic skills programmes at NFQ levels 1 to 3.”
“In addition, Tusla's Children First information and advice service provides ongoing support and guidance to implementing bodies.”
“In addition, consideration is being given to whether the definitions and descriptions of child abuse and at-risk children in the 2017 guidance need to be updated to take a fuller account of forms of harm to children that have gained wider recognition since the publication of the guidance, including online harms, organisational and organised abuse, peer abuse, child trafficking and sexual exploitation, and exposure to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Department of Children, Disability and Equality officials continue to work closely with Department of education officials, and indeed officials from all Departments, in the context of the Children First interdepartmental implementation group to ensure our continued effective implementation of the Act and guidance.”
“That Act operates side by side with the non-statutory obligations provided for in Children First, the national guidance for the protection and welfare of children. The Department is in the early stages of a review of the Children First national guidelines. The purpose of the review is to ensure that the guidance incorporates, as appropriate, the range of legislative and operational developments since its publication as well as learnings from the implementation date.”
“I appreciate the Senator's comments and I will convey them to the Minister on his behalf. The Minister has asked me to make some closing remarks on this. It is important to state that robust legislative policy and practice measures are in place to promote safeguarding of children in Ireland. Government Departments promote compliance with Children First within their funded bodies. Under this legislation, all bodies providing services to children are legally required to ensure that, as far as practicable, each child availing of the service from the provider is safe from harm while availing of that service. They are also obliged to carry out risk assessments, publish child safeguarding statements and set out the principles and procedures they have in place to safeguard children.”
“It is important to remember that any person who has a reasonable concern about a child or young person can and should report that concern directly to the Tusla social work department in the area where the child lives.”