Yesterday the Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone said a report highlighted serious concerns about child protection procedures with Scouting Ireland, when she read a letter from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency to Scouting Ireland into the Dail record.
She described the contents of the letter as “serious” and expressed concern about the viability of overnight scout trips. Scouting Ireland this morning, has called for an urgent meeting with Tusla, "with regards to where is the evidence, or what evidence exists, to support the very serious contents of this letter".
In the letter sent to Scouting Ireland chief executive John Lawlor on February 18, Tusla highlighted “serious concerns” around its failure to implement the Children First national guidelines for the protection and welfare of children and made eight recommendations:
- It is imperative that a proposed meeting between Scouting Ireland board of management is progressed without delay;
- The actions of key personnel holding a role in safeguarding within Scouting Ireland may have been compromised;
- Consideration should be given to nominate the CEO of Scouting Ireland to be the principal liaison in relation to work on Children First;
- A sub-committee should be put in place to review the child safeguarding statement and procedures throughout the organisation;
- An urgent review of the manner in which Scouting Ireland manage current child protection concerns and disclosures from children should commence;
- There should be an immediate review of the supervision of children involved in scouting;
- Scouting Ireland should consider the viability of continuing with overnight trips;
- Consideration should be given to ensure the personnel manning the helpline set up to deal with historical abuse issues are independent of Scouting Ireland.
Scouting Ireland’s child protection consultant Ian Elliot spoke to Ivan about the organisations reaction to the Tusla recommendations.
