Child safety points 'common sense'

New mandatory standards for the protection and welfare of Ireland’s most vulnerable children are common sense, it was claimed.

The 27 new points will make a difference to the lives of thousands of youngsters in care, the health watchdog said.

Pat McGrath, chairman of the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), said all of society had failed children too many times.

Child protection services have also been criticised in a string of damning reports in recent years, which highlighted chronic system failures in cases where children suffered abuse, neglect or ultimately died.

“In the past too many people could say they didn’t really know what child protection was,” said Mr McGrath.

“These (standards) are not written in legalese, not written in bureaucratic speech. They are written in plain English and they make common sense.

“And with the launch of these standards nobody can say in the future ’I didn’t really know what child protection meant’.”

The new Hiqa national standards were launched by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald.

They fall under six themes and focus on child centres services; safe and effective services; leadership, governance and management; workforce; and use of information and of services.