asked the Minister for Health if he has any plans to increase the number of social work staff employed by health boards to allow the development of family support services as a preventative measure against cases of non-accidental injury to children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Non-Accidental Injury to Children.
6.
As part of the development of services for deprived children and children at risk, I would envisage the expansion of family support services. I consider that such an expansion would serve not only to help families in stress to cope with their problems but also as a significant preventive measure against the incidence of non-accidental injury to children. This would of course necessarily entail an increase in personnel, including social workers. I shall be examining the extent to which this can be accomplished in the light of the financial position.
Would the Minister please answer the question that Deputy Flaherty has put which is identical with the one I put to him yesterday as a supplementary—will the Minister make a 24-hour emergency number available?
That is not the question. That comes up on another question.
I beg your pardon.
7.
asked the Minister for Health if he will make a 24-hour emergency number available for suspected cases of non-accidental injury to children.
My Department are at present carrying out a comprehensive review of the procedures for the management and control of the problem of non-accidental injury to children. The desirability and feasibility of introducing a service on the lines indicated by the Deputy will be considered in the context of this review.
Would the Minister give a definite commitment to the establishment of a 24-hour emergency service? Would he not agree in the light of the fact that three children died as a result of baby battering in the last 12 months such an emergency number is necessary? Would the Minister also consider it also in the light of the fact that until the health boards took over this function the ISPCC for many years operated a 24-hour seven days a week service?
I have pointed out that a review is taking place and that this will be considered in the context of that review. There is no guarantee that a 24-hour service would make any difference to the incidence of non-accidental injuries. The Deputy is probably aware that in the UK as many children now seem to suffer ill treatment as before the introduction of the 24-hour system. Their experience has been that problems arose mainly at night and that the assistance of the police was very much required and requested and was particularly valuable in that area. In fact a number of those who introduced it in England have stopped the 24-hour service. Nonetheless I have asked the committee to review the position and see if it is desirable to take that action.
Would the Minister agree that baby battering is not something that occurs between nine and five from Monday to Friday and in those circumstances would he not agree that there is a need for a seven days a week 24-hour service with which people who believe children are at risk can make contact and seek professional assistance from social workers? Would he not also agree that at present our services in this regard are defective?
That is argumentative.
The Deputy seems to think that all our services in every area are defective. I should like to point out that the gardaí play a very major and welcome part from the point of view of social workers. The social workers consulted by my Department certainly recognised the need for a strong presence, such as that of gardaí, in the heat of the moment in such situations. It was regarded as particularly important and in many instances even where another measure was being taken gardaí had also to be called in. They do provide a round the clock service. I have told the Deputy that this matter is being considered in the context of the committee's review.