Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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628. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations of a review (details supplied) and the related issues raised in correspondence to the Minister from a survivor of abuse. [5595/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department continues to engage with St John Ambulance Ireland (SJAI) in terms of ongoing developments and compliance with Dr. Shannon’s recommendations. I am clear that all recommendations in the Shannon report should be complied with as soon as practicable by SJAI.

SJAI has published three progress reports to date on the implementation of Dr. Shannon’s recommendations and these can be found on the SJAI website www.stjohn.ie. SJAI has advised that another progress report is due to be published shortly, and I await publication and further discussion with SJAI on progress made.

It should be noted that SJAI is not a body under the aegis of my Department and is independent in its functions as a registered charity, and I have no role in the governance of the organisation.

A key recommendation of Dr. Shannon’s Report was for the appointment of a National Safeguarding Officer to SJAI. My Department has provided funding for a 12-month period to ensure that all of Dr. Shannon’s recommendations, including safeguarding, are implemented in full. This once off funding sets a precedent neither for continued SJAI support beyond 12 months nor for any other organisation.

The National Safeguarding Officer is ensuring that SJAI are fully compliant with the safeguarding regime in operation. The National Safeguarding Officer ensures that an extra layer of oversight and governance is present which in turn strengthens the efficacy of the governance regime in SJAI. The Officer is supporting, identifying and promoting the development of knowledge of safeguarding practice within the organisation and is independent of SJAI. It should also be noted that this work includes an audit of safeguarding procedures in all of the 22 SJAI branches around the country. The Officer is also able to liaise with Tusla and An Garda Siochána for any complaints regarding the safety of children.

The funding provided by my Department in respect of the National Safeguarding Officer and the work identified in the funding agreement with the Department should leave SJAI as a functioning independent and frequently audited organisation with clear systems for ensuring the safeguarding of children are in place including compliance with Children First guidelines and its child safeguarding statement.

SJAI has advised that it will take on board all the learnings and structural reforms implemented since the publication of Dr. Shannon’s Report to ensure that all necessary safeguarding requirements are in place. The work of the National Safeguarding Officer is due to conclude by the end of Q2 2025.

As regards the related issues raised in correspondence by a survivor of abuse to my predecessor Minister O’Gorman, and more recently to myself, SJAI has advised that they have made supports available to those affected following the publication of the report including outreach support and counselling services funded by SJAI, and which are provided on an anonymous basis. In relation to the survivor’s request that the publication of progress reports on the work of the National Safeguarding Officer are published, my officials will raise this with SJAI at the next scheduled meeting.

Officials from my Department will continue to liaise with SJAI around the progress of implementation of each of the recommendations made by Dr Shannon in his Independent Review, and the work of the National Safeguarding Officer, which should be completed this year. Officials in my Department are due to meet with SJAI in the near future to discuss progress to date.