Safeguarding

This statement has been prepared to comply with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015 and is derived from Safeguarding Children Policy and Standards for the Catholic Church in Ireland 2016. The policy of the Catholic Church in Ireland is based on standards and practice which contain indicators that assist in reaching these standards. These indicators can be used in assessing and managing risk.

Diocese of Clonfert

Coorheen

Loughrea

Co. Galway H62 TD82

091-841560

‘The Diocese of Clonfert recognises and upholds the dignity and rights of all children. We are committed to ensuring their safety and well-being, and will work in partnership with parents/guardians to do this. We recognise each child as a gift from God, and we value and encourage the participation of children in all activities that enhance their spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual and social development.’

All Church personnel (including clergy, religious, staff and volunteers) have a responsibility to safeguard children through promoting their welfare, health and development in a safe and caring environment that supports their best interests and prevents abuse.

The Diocese of Clonfert as a constituent member of the Catholic Church in Ireland exists to promote the teachings of the Catholic Church. This includes the following ministry with children, as defined in Safeguarding Children Policy and Standards for the Catholic Church in Ireland 2016:

• Altar Servers
• Children’s Choirs/Mixed Choirs
• Children’s Liturgy Groups
• Children’s Prayer Groups
• Sacramental Preparation Programmes
• Participation in youth groups and programmes;
• Participation in retreats and pilgrimages.

  This list is not exhaustive.

As outlined in the Safeguarding Children 2016 Policy and Standards for the Catholic Church in Ireland we are committed to the following principles:

Each of us have a duty to notify the statutory authorities of suspicions, concerns, knowledge or allegations that a child is being or has been abused:

• Physically
• Emotionally
• Sexually
• Through neglect

Suspicions, concerns, knowledge or allegations may relate to possible abuse by a member of Church personnel, but they can also relate to incidents in the child’s family, or elsewhere in the community.

Measures to create and maintain environments that are safe for children, that prevent abuse and that create nurturing, caring conditions within the Church for children and the adults who work with them, will continue to be strengthened and reviewed. This will be done through training, support, communications and quality assurance.

Anyone who brings any suspicion, concern, knowledge or allegation of current or past abuse of a child to the notice of the Church will be responded to sensitively, respectfully, actively and in a timely manner, in line with statutory child protection procedures and church requirements.

All Church personnel have a responsibility to report suspicions, concerns, knowledge or allegations of child abuse that reach the threshold for reporting to the statutory authorities. The Designated Liaison Person can assist with this process.  These reports will be made irrespective of the status of the person (lay, cleric or religious) who is suspected of having been abusive to a child.  If the allegation being reported relates to a cleric or religious, in addition to notifying the statutory authorities, the allegation must also be reported to the Church authority and the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland.

All Church personnel will cooperate with the statutory authorities in all cases.

In responding to complaints of child sexual abuse relating to clergy and all those in forms of consecrated life, Church authorities will act in accordance with the requirements of civil law and canon law, and so will respect the rights and uphold the safeguards afforded in these, both to the complainant and respondent.

The table below sets out the identified risks to the safety of children and young people involved in Church activities in the Diocese of Clonfert and the steps taken to minimise the risks of abuse.

Alongside the risks listed in the table above, all parishes/religious communities of the Diocese of Clonfert individually risk assess their activities with children and put in place procedures to manage these risks. 

All procedures outlined in the risk assessment above are available at www.safeguarding.ie. The procedures listed above include the following: 

• Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/ volunteers of a child availing of our service. This is part of Indicator 2.1 which is available from www.safeguarding.ie
• Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with children. This is part of Indicator 1 .1 available from www.safeguarding.ie
• Procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm. This is part of Indicators 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 available from www.safeguarding.ie
• Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla. This is part of Indicator 2.1 which is available from www.safeguarding.ie
• Procedure for maintaining a list of the persons (if any) in the relevant service who are mandated persons. This is part of Indicator 2.1 which is available from www.safeguarding.ie 
• Procedure for appointing a relevant person. This is part of Indicators 1 .1 and 6.1 which are available from www.safeguarding.ie

A copy of this Child Safeguarding Statement is available on request and online at www.clonfertdiocese.ie

The Diocese of Clonfert is committed to safeguarding children through the implementation of Safeguarding Children Policy and Standards for the Catholic Church in Ireland 2016. This Child Safeguarding Statement and our practice supports our desire to keep children safe from harm while in our ministries. As part of our annual audit against the relevant indicators of the child safeguarding standards, we will review the effectiveness of our practice as outlined in this statement and will revise, as appropriate. 

Signed:  + Michael Duignan    

                 Bishop of Clonfert                  

                 24th October 2022 

For any queries relating to this statement please contact the relevant person who is Ms Isabelle Mulkern, Co-ordinator of Safeguarding, Diocese of Clonfert at 083-8791745