asked the Minister for Health the number of children who have been taken into care by each of the health boards in the years 1982 to 1985, inclusive, as a result of suspected or actual non-accidental injury inflicted by parents.
Written Answers. - Child Care Statistics.
113.
The numbers of children taken into care by each of the health boards in the years 1982 to 1985 as a result of suspected or actual non-accidental injury are set out in the following statement:
|
Health Board |
1982 |
1983 |
1984 |
1985 |
|
Eastern |
59 |
122 |
113 |
166 |
|
Midland |
32 |
33 |
18 |
59 |
|
Mid Western |
27 |
36 |
9 |
20 |
|
North Eastern |
9 |
14 |
11 |
20 |
|
South Western |
5 |
5 |
17 |
19 |
|
South Eastern |
42 |
22 |
15 |
15 |
|
Southern |
23 |
47 |
21 |
26 |
|
Western |
10 |
18 |
13 |
23 |
The 1985 figure for the Eastern Health Board relates to seven of the ten community care areas. I will arrange to have the total figure forwarded to the Deputy as soon as the details from the three outstanding community care areas are available. Because of the format of my Department's annual survey of non-accidental injury, it is not possible to distinguish between the cases where injury was inflicted by parents and those cases where injury was inflicted by other residents in the family home.