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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Feb 1993

Vol. 425 No. 7

Written Answers. - Child Abuse.

Bernard Allen

Question:

464 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health the number of child abuse cases reported in each of the health board areas in each of the years from 1987 to 1992; and if he will make a statement on the situation where the number of cases has soared in recent times especially in the Eastern Health Board area where over 1,000 cases of child abuse were reported in 1991, of which 466 were confirmed.

The following table sets out details of the number of alleged cases of child abuse reported to each health board in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1991 and the number of such cases where abuse was confirmed.

No figures are yet available in respect of 1992. My Department did not collect figures in respect of 1990 pending a detailed review of the questionnaires used in the survey. This review has resulted in more comprehensive information being submitted by the health boards.

I am extremely concerned at the steady increase in the number of confirmed cases of child abuse. It will be one of my main priorities during my term of office to identify and put in place further measures to combat the incidence of child abuse.

Health Board

1987

1988

1989

1991 (Preliminary)

Reports Received

Reports Confirmed

Reports Received

Reports Confirmed

Reports Received

Reports Confirmed

Reports Received

Reports Confirmed

Eastern

793

350

1,398

722

1,699

1,032

1,323

525

Midland

240

91

536

190

368

121

566

206

Mid-Western

98

33

140

59

178

55

515

254

North-Eastern

96

60

78

43

181

74

273

89

North-Western

150

104

122

47

82

37

75

28

South-Eastern

78

32

143

56

352

168

414

91

Southern

80

44

104

63

157

62

220

98

Western

111

49

152

63

235

109

366

112

Total

1,646

929

2,673

1,243

3,252

1,658

3,752

1,403

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