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September 2026 

• Updates to guidance and refreshed templates to help Church bodies complete their annual safeguarding self‑audits. 
• Updates to Appendix C safeguarding definitions and terminology. 
• Updates to S1.A Guidance on Safe Recruitment,  revisions reflect current safeguarding expectations and best practice in relation to safer recruitment.
• Updates to S1. B Guidance on Vetting, revisions reflect clearer explanations within some aspects, expanded explanations on the appeals process, soft information, records retention and temporary visitors and contracts. 
• Updates to S2.A Guidance on an Induction Process for All Involved in the Church. Expanded information on what inductions should cover. 

August 2026 

• Updates to Appendix D  to reflect the revised contact information for TUSLA. 
• Updates to Appendix A  on safeguarding roles and responsibilities, providing clearer definitions and lines of accountability.

January 2026 

• Updates to S1.A Guidance on Safe Recruitment Procedures to include information on requirements for Police Clearance Certificates.  

November 2025 

• Updates to R1.A Guidance on Reporting Suspicions, Concerns, Knowledge or allegations of abuse, inclusion of  R1.A Template 3 Safeguarding Report Form to An Garda Síochána. 
• Updates to S1.B. Guidance on Vetting, updates re satisfying terms of EU directive 2011/93 and include E-Learning module. 

July 2025 

• Updates to R1.A Guidance on Reporting Suspicions, Concerns, Knowledge or allegations of abuse, inclusion of  R1.A Template 3 Safeguarding Report Form to An Garda Síochána.

July 2025

• Updates to S1.B. Guidance on Vetting, updates re satisfying terms of EU directive 2011/93.  

June 2025

• Updates to S1.A Guidance on Safe Recruitment Procedures, supported employment schemes. 
• Updates to R1.A Guidance on reporting suspicions, concerns, knowledge of allegations of abuse; updates following changes to Tusla guidance. 

December 2024

• Updates to R1.A Guidance on reporting suspicions, concerns, knowledge or allegations of abuse. 
• Updates to R1.D Guidance on reporting Allegations Against Deceased Clerics and Religious. 
• Updates to L2. C Guidance on Annual Self Audit
• Updates to Guidance on the Delivery of Basic Safeguarding Awareness following a revision of the training manual.  

 October 2024

• Updates to L1.A Guidance on Developing a Communications Plan

August 2024: 

• Blank risk assessment template added to Nurturing a Culture of Safeguarding.
• Clarification on the role of the Relevant person along with a definition of the mandated person role added to Appendix A.

July 2024:

• Nurturing a Culture of Safeguarding: Template S10: Example International Child Safeguarding Policy added. 

June 2024:

• A Safe and Welcoming Church, Safeguarding Children Policy and Standards for the Catholic Church in Ireland, 2024 released on the 11th of June 2024. 
• Associated guidance was also released on the 11th of June 2024