Child Safeguarding Statement

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In accordance with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015 and Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, Dublin City Council has agreed the Child Safeguarding Statement set out in this document.

The Council is responsible for providing a range of services to residents and visitors to Dublin including, fire and emergency, housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, culture and environment and enterprise services.

The City Council recognises that child protection and welfare considerations must be reflected in all of its policies, procedures, practices and activities. The City Council will adhere to the following principles of best practice in child safeguarding in its policies, procedures, practices and activities:

  • It will recognise that the protection and welfare of children is of paramount importance, regardless of all other considerations.
  • It will comply with its statutory obligations under the Children First Act, 2015 and other relevant legislation relating to the protection and welfare of children.
  • It will co-operate with the relevant statutory authorities in relation to child safeguarding issues.
  • It will adopt safe practices to minimise the possibility of harm happening to children.
  • It will fully respect confidentiality requirements in dealing with child safeguarding matters.

Our Child Safe Guarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, 'Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017)' and Tusla's 'Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice'. It also takes account of the outcomes of risk assessments of the potential for harm to a child while availing of our services. The following procedures support our intention to safeguard children while the are availing of our services:

  • Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with children.
  • Procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm.
  • Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/ volunteers of a child availing of our services.
  • Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla.
  • Procedure for maintaining a list of the persons (if any) in the relevant service who are mandated persons.
  • Procedure for appointing a relevant person.

*All procedures listed are available upon request.

Under the Children First Act 2015, Dublin City Council is required to carry out an assessment of risk of any potential for harm from abuse to a child while availing of our services. 

A list of the areas of risk identified and the procedures for managing these risks are listed below.

Risk from staff or volunteer

  • Robust Recruitment Procedures.
  • Appropriate Garda Vetting Procedures.
  • Appointment of Designated Child Protection Liaison Officers.
  • Code of behaviour for staff to provide employees and volunteers with clear guidance on how to treat children.
  • Implementation of Child Protection Policy in line with Children First requirements.
  • Relevant Child Protection training for staff.
  • Procedures to deal with an allegation of abuse made against an employee / volunteer.

Risk from other service user.

  • Adequate staff to child ratios.
  • Appropriate supervision of children/young people by staff.
  • Appropriate use of CCTV.
  • Security staff in relevant services.
  • Code of conduct for service users on display in relevant services.
  • Parents/guardians advised re requirement to supervise children appropriately in publicly accessed buildings and services.

Risk of Non-Compliance with Children First Act 2015 and National Guidance.

  • Implementation of Child Protection Policy and Procedures in compliance with Children First Act.
  • Appropriate recruitment and selection of employees and volunteers.
  • Appropriate vetting procedures (in accordance with the National Vetting Bureau Act 2012 – 2016) for all relevant employees and volunteers.
  • Appropriate training of staff.
  • Appointment and training of DLPs and deputy DLPs.
  • Mandated persons within the organisation identified and a list of mandated persons held by Safeguarding Officer.
  • Completion of Risk Assessment and Child Safeguarding Statement.

Risk of harm/concern not being recognised by staff/volunteer. Relevant Child Protection and awareness training to all staff

  • Relevant Child Protection and awareness training to all staff.
  • Clear reporting procedures in place.
  • Details of DLP circulated to all staff and contact details available on intranet.
  • Implementation of Child Protection Policy compliant with Children First requirements.

Risk of Harm caused to young person/child due to them accessing inappropriate online content or inappropriate/abusive communications via social media.

  • IT policy and code of behaviour for staff.
  • Firewall and content filter in spaces where children can access the internet and social media on Dublin City Council devices

Risk from external contractors/facilitators

  • External Contractors/Facilitators to advise Dublin City Council that they have a Child Protection Policy and Child Safeguarding Statement in place or agree to adhere to Dublin City Council’s Policy and Procedures.
  • External facilitators who have direct contact with children are appropriately Garda Vetted.

We recognise that implementation is an on-going process. Our service is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our services. This Child Safeguarding Statement has been reviewed in May 2022 and will be reviewed again in May 2024 or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.