Hi, welcome to Ask Robyn,

Thanks so much for reaching out to us. We know this can be a difficult situation. You asked about what to do if you are concerned about the safety and well-being of a child.

Firstly, it’s important to know that this can be a very challenging situation. However, as adults, we have a responsibility to protect children and to report any concerns we have.

There are a few things you can do to help ensure the safety of the child while remaining anonymous.

Keep a record

Keep a record of any dates, times, or incidents that have raised your concerns. By doing this, you have clear facts when discussing them with relevant agencies.

Say you want to remain anonymous

Many people who report concerns are known to the child in some way. This can make reporting difficult, as it may impact the person making the report. However, services are very aware of this, and anonymous reports are not uncommon. When contacting a service, you can state that you wish to remain anonymous.

Contact Túsla

You should always inform Túsla if you have reasonable grounds for concern that a child may have been, is being, or is at risk of being abused or neglected.

You can report your concern in person, by telephone, or in writing to the local social work duty service in the area where the child lives. You can find contact details for Túsla social work teams by visiting www.tusla.ie.

It is not necessary for you to prove that abuse has occurred before reporting a concern to Túsla—only that you have reasonable grounds for concern. Túsla’s role is to assess concerns that are reported to them. If you report a concern, your information will be carefully considered along with any other available information, and a child protection assessment will be carried out if sufficient risk is identified.

If you are unsure whether your concern meets the threshold for reporting, you can contact Túsla to discuss it informally. They can guide you on whether a formal report is appropriate or whether other services may be better suited to help the child and their family.

Contact the Gardaí outside of Túsla’s hours

If you have immediate concerns for a child’s safety or welfare, you can contact your local Gardaí and request a welfare check on the child.

Get support

If you’re looking for more support or advice, you can contact our Parent Support Line for any concerns you have about a child’s well-being. We are available between 9 am and 1 pm at 01 522 4300, and we can offer guidance while keeping your identity confidential.

Useful links

• Túsla: How to report a concern

• ISPCC Parent Line: Support Line

We hope this information helps. Remember, it is always best to share concerns with the appropriate services to ensure the safety of the child.

Thanks so much for reaching out,

Robyn