The Diocese of Meath welcomes other organisations/groups/ who seek to minister with children and promote good child safeguarding practice within the Catholic Church in Ireland. We need to be assured that all reasonable steps have been taken to safeguard children. The responsibility for complying with good safeguarding practice (including safe recruitment and vetting) rests with you [INSERT NAME OF LAY APOSTOLATE] and not with the Diocese of Meath. The Diocese of Meath has its own policies and procedures in relation to safeguarding children. Any group operating under the name or auspices of the Diocese must comply with these requirements.
It is a requirement that all groups working with children in the Diocese and/or using facilities owned by the Diocese are insured, and that they have a child safeguarding policy in place. The obligation to comply with requirements relating to insurance and child safeguarding rests with the apostolate, and not with the Diocese. It is the responsibility of apostolates ministering with children to ensure that they comply with all applicable child safeguarding and protection legislation and guidelines.
As an apostolate you must have your own child safeguarding policy and procedures. You are also responsible for liaising with Tusla, to ensure that the policy and procedures meet the statutory requirements. The Diocese must have confirmation in writing from you that a child safeguarding policy is in place. It is not the role of the Diocese to validate the adequacy of the policy; that is the responsibility of Tusla.
As an apostolate you must have appropriate insurance for the ministry you are engaged in. The Diocese of Meath requires confirmation in writing that you have appropriate insurance in place, which includes the following:
- The name of your insurers;
- The policy number;
- The period of cover of the policy;
- The limit of indemnity.
We ask that you complete the following questionnaire. If any response is not applicable (N/A), please provide details of why this does not apply to your organisation. If you feel your application requires further information, please attach on an additional page. Please indicate when additional information is provided in support of your application.
Name of apostolate
Purpose or proposed activities
User group, e.g. children, adults
Date of commencement of ministry
Date of completion of ministry
Names and addresses of persons who will be in charge during use:
(1)
Telephone number
(2)
Telephone number
Do you have your own child safeguarding policy and procedures? Yes ¨ No ¨
Do you have appropriate (public liability and/or employer’s liability and professional indemnity if appropriate) insurance cover for the activity? Yes ¨ No ¨
Name of insurance company
Policy number
Period of cover
Limit of indemnity
To be signed by official/coordinator of the apostolate.
Signed
Print name
Position
Date