1.1. Members of the Club who have reasonable grounds for concerns that a Child or Vulnerable Person may have been, is being, or is at risk of being abused or neglected are advised, to immediately inform the relevant Designated Liaison Person (DLP). If this is not possible, the Clubs Children’s Officer (CCO) or Club Secretary should be informed. The priority in all cases is the safety and wellbeing of the Child. The Statutory Authorities should also be advised where appropriate and all necessary steps taken to protect the Child.

1.2. The Designated Liaison Person should record all concerns or allegations brought to his or her attention.

1.3. If, the Designated Liaison Person, decides not to report a concern to Tusla, the following steps should be taken; The reasons for not reporting should be recorded / Any actions taken as a result of the concern should be recorded / The person who raised the concern should be given a clear written explanation of the reasons why the concern is not being reported to Tusla / The person should be advised that if they remain concerned about the situation, they are free to make a report to Tusla or An Garda Siochana.

1.4. If there are concerns about a Child but the Designated Liaison Person is unsure if it should be reported to Tusla, the club DLP should contact Tusla to informally discuss the concern. This provides an opportunity to discuss the query in general and to decide whether a formal report of the concern to Tusla is appropriate at this stage.

1.5. Where coaches or other Members of the Club are advised by others who suspect or are concerned that a Child may be at risk of abuse, they are obliged to immediately inform the relevant Designated Liaison Person (DLP). If this is not possible, the Clubs Children’s Officer (CCO) or Club Secretary should be informed. Priority in all cases is the safety and wellbeing of the child and all necessary steps must be taken to protect the Child.

1.6. In the event of an emergency where a Child is believed to be in immediate danger and Tusla cannot be contacted then the Gardaí should be contacted immediately.

1.7. In cases where there is deemed to be a serious risk to Children, the Designated Liaison Person may issue a temporary Stand Down Order in line with the Clubs Recruitment Policy.

1.8. Reports can be made to Tusla in person, by telephone or in writing – including by email – to the local
duty service in the area where the Child lives. Detail can be found on the Tusla website (www.tusla.ie)

1.9. To help Tusla staff assess the reasonable concern, they need all relevant information. Observations should be accurately recorded and should include dates, times, names, locations, context and any other information that may be relevant. Please note: It is not the role of the Designated Liaison Person to investigate the circumstances of an allegation of abuse prior to informing the Statutory Authorities. It should be ensured that all relevant information is recorded and provided to the Statutory Authorities.

1.10. Parents/carers of a Child who is a suspected victim of abuse should be advised by the DLP that a report is being made, unless doing so is likely to endanger the Child.

1.11. Reports received anonymously will be taken seriously and relevant enquiries made to establish if there is any substance to the complaint. The welfare of the Child is a priority in all cases.

1.12. Children who are being abused may hint that they are being Harmed and sometimes make disclosures. Disclosures should always be believed and reported to the relevant Designated Liaison Person without delay.

1.13. Any request to keep information anonymous cannot be guaranteed.

1.14. Protection from civil liability for persons reporting concerns of child abuse in good faith:
(a) Section 16 (3) of the Children First Act, 2015: If a Mandated Person furnishes any information (including a report), document or thing to the Agency pursuant to a request made under subsection (1), the furnishing of that information, document or thing shall not give rise to any civil liability in contract, tort or otherwise and nor shall the information, document or thing be admissible as evidence against that person in any civil or criminal proceedings.

(b) Section 3 Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998: Legislation makes provision for the protection from civil liability of persons who have communicated Child abuse reasonably and in good faith to designated officers of Tusla or to any member of An Garda Síochána. This protection applies to Organisations as well as to individuals. This means that even if a communicated suspicion of Child abuse proves unfounded, a plaintiff who took an action would have to prove that the person who communicated the concern had not acted reasonably and in good faith in making the report.

1.16. How Reports shall be managed

(a) Once a report is received it shall be reviewed by the relevant Designated Liaison Person. The DLP shall determine if an enquiry is required and the nature and extent of enquiries and/or reports to be made to the relevant Authorities following the above information.

(b) If the report is not reported to the relevant Authorities, but the DLP feels a breach of the Policy has occurred, then the matter may be delegated to the Club Children’s Officer.

(c) Any enquiry is not to proceed if a Statutory Investigation is already under way. Once any Statutory Investigation is completed then the Designated Liaison Person may follow the above step.

(d) It is a matter for the Designated Liaison Person and Children’s Officer to determine if a report falls under the remit of the Policy.

(e) Any report made directly to the FAI Child Welfare and Safeguarding Manager shall be assessed and if deemed more appropriate it shall be remitted to the Designated Club Children’s Officer of the Affiliated Club for consideration as per FAI Concern/Complaint Policy 2018.

(f) If a report is made to the FAI Child Welfare and Safeguarding Manager and it meets the thresholds for abuse for a Mandated Person to report, as a Mandated Person, the FAI Child Welfare and Safeguarding Manager will complete a Mandated report and submit it to Tusla.

1.17. False/Malicious Allegations
False or malicious allegations are deemed to be a serious breach of the Club Policy and the FAI Rules. This may result in disciplinary action been taken and may constitute an offence under relevant legislation.