Chief Executive of the Children's Rights Alliance Tanya Ward has been appointed as Independent Chair of the Steering Group for Tusla's wellbeing check on children whose cases were closed during the Covid-19 lockdown period.
The wellbeing check will focus on the estimated 42,000 children and young people aged 0-18 years that had open cases with Tusla Child Protection Services and whose cases closed between March 2020 and February 2022
It is expected that around three-quarters of the 42,000 cases relate to child welfare, which can include requests for advice and assistance from families themselves.
The remaining one-quarter of cases are expected to relate to child protection cases, where referrals were received.
These child protection cases are expected to be prioritised in the wellbeing check according to the Department of Children.
Read more: Tusla to conduct welfare checks for 42,000 closed cases
Ms Ward will be required to provide impartial leadership to a steering group and oversight of the wellbeing check’s work.
The Steering Group will include representatives from relevant Government departments, the HSE, Tusla, the community and voluntary sector, and social work professionals.
Tusla was asked by Minister for Children Norma Foley to undertake wellbeing checks, beginning with cases closed during Covid-19 within days of gardaí beginning their search for missing boy Daniel Aruebose.
