Child Safeguarding Statement

The Children First Act 2015 requires organisations that are providers of ‘relevant services’ under the Act to publish a Child Safeguarding Statement. The Child Safeguarding Statement of the Department of Education details the relevant services provided by staff of the Department of Education to children as well as the principles and procedures in place to safeguard children from harm while availing of those services. This statement has been prepared in line with Tusla’s Guidance on Developing a Child Safeguarding Statement, Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children as well as the Addendum to Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children which deals with online safety.

This statement will be reviewed every 2 years, or as soon as practicable if there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.

Childrens First Sectoral Implementation Plan

Section 27 of the Children First Act 2015 requires each Minister of the Government to prepare and publish a Sectoral Implementation Plan.

The Department of Education’s Children First Sectoral Implementation Plan has been prepared and published in accordance with the Children First Act 2015. The Sectoral Implementation Plan outlines the programme of measures taken, or proposed to be taken, to ensure compliance with the Children First Act 2015 and with the Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children by: a) The Department itself and b) Any agency or body that provides a relevant service and receives funding from the Department in that regard.

The CFSIP will be reviewed every three years, or more regularly as necessary.

Report on the review of Child Protection

The Department of Education engaged an independent reviewer to carry out a High Level Independent Review of the Department of Education’s Current Child Protection Policies and Processes. The review examined the policies and processes that the Department of Education has in place with regards to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people. The aim of the review was to identify any existing and/or potential gaps, risks or areas for improvement and to make recommendations for improvements both short and long term. Implementation of the recommendations is well advanced.