Delay to national child-risk register

A national register of children at risk accessible to gardaí and medical personnel 24/7 will not be available before the end of the year despite its significance in supporting child protection.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, had planned to extend access to a national register of children with a Child Protection Plan to GPs, hospitals and the gardaí in 2014, but has confirmed to the Irish Examiner that it will be the end of 2015 before the system is provided.

The Child Notification Protection System (CPNS) will allow doctors in emergency departments, GPs and gardaí to find out if a child has been deemed to be at risk of significant harm.