AQW 29684/22-27


Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley


Tabled Date: 01/07/2025
Answered On Date: 21/07/2025
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Health (i) whether his Department regularly engages with colleagues in other jurisdictions in respect of missing children; and (ii) what official arrangements are in place for this engagement to take place.


Answer:
(i) The Department of Health recognises the importance of effective cooperation and information sharing in cases involving missing children, particularly where there are concerns relating to safeguarding, health or cross-jurisdictional movement.
My Department regularly engages with relevant counterparts in other jurisdictions, including other UK nations and the Republic of Ireland, through established safeguarding and child protection frameworks. These arrangements are guided by both statutory responsibilities and inter-agency protocols to ensure that the welfare and safety of children remains paramount.
In situations where a child goes missing and there are implications for Health or Social Care, the Department works closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Health and Social Care Trusts, and, when appropriate, international and national agencies such as Interpol, the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) and Tusla – the Child and Family Agency in the Republic of Ireland.
Additionally, Northern Ireland is an active participant in cross-border and UK wide forums focused on child protection and safeguarding, which facilitate the sharing of best practices and the development of coordinated responses in complex cases.
My Department remains committed to working collaboratively with all relevant agencies to protect children and ensure robust systems are in place for timely and effective responses when a child goes missing.
(ii) A number of formal and operational arrangements are in place to facilitate engagement between the Department of Health in Northern Ireland and colleagues in other jurisdictions in respect of missing children. These include;
Protocols and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs):
Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts operate under joint agency agreements with statutory partners including the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and have established relationships with counterparts in the Republic of Ireland through cross-border safeguarding protocols.
2.North-South Child Protection Work:
There is regular liaison with the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) in the Republic of Ireland, particularly in cases with cross-border elements. This includes cooperation through the North-South Child Protection Sub-Group, which supports joint working arrangements between both jurisdictions.
3.National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and UK-Wide Safeguarding Frameworks:
Engagement occurs through participation in UK-wide safeguarding and child protection structures, such as the UK National Safeguarding Steering Group. These forums ensure consistent approaches to managing high-risk cases, including those involving missing or trafficked children.
4.All-Island Child Protection Initiatives:
Northern Ireland is part of All-Island initiatives supported by bodies such as SPPG and the NSPCC, which promote shared learning and aligned protocols for dealing with vulnerable children, especially in the context of cross-border mobility.
5.Information Sharing Protocols:
Health and Social Care professionals in Northern Ireland follow strict information sharing protocols to ensure that relevant data about missing children is exchanged securely and lawfully with counterparts in other jurisdictions, in line with GDPR and safeguarding legislation.
6.Joint Training and Professional Networks:
Cross-border and inter-jurisdictional training programmes, workshops, and professional forums also contribute to the sharing of best practice and operational coordination on cases involving missing children.
These arrangements are under regular review to ensure they remain effective in supporting child protection efforts, particularly in complex and cross-border situations. The Department of Health remains committed to strengthening these collaborative mechanisms where needed.