Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 1

Written Answers - Inquiries into Child Abuse.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

88 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health the number of inquiries at present being conducted under the aegis of his Department into suspected cases of child abuse and child sexual abuse; the stages that these inquiries have reached; when it is envisaged that each inquiry will conclude; whether the subsequent report will be published and discussed by Dáil Éireann. [2339/96]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr. Currie)

The total number of reports of alleged cases of child abuse received by health boards on an annual basis is in excess of 4,000. The procedures followed by health boards in pursuing allegations of child abuse are in accordance with the guidelines issued by my Department in 1987 and the guidelines for the "Notification of Suspected Cases of Child Abuse between Health Boards and Gardaí" which amend the 1987 guidelines. These guidelines do not require health boards to routinely notify the Department of individual allegations of abuse.

In this context, therefore, I am replying to the Deputy on the present position in relation to major inquiries into suspected cases of child abuse, namely, the Kelly Fitzgerald case, the "West of Ireland Farmer" case and the Madonna House investigation. The position in relation to the Kelly Fitzgerald case is that following the completion of the inquest in London into the death of the late Kelly Fitzgerald the Chief Executive Officer of the Western Health Board appointed an independent team to examine the Western Health Board's involvement with the child and her family. The inquiry team has submitted its report to the chief executive officer. I understand that the chief executive officer is taking legal advice as to the legal implications of publishing the report. It is my strong wish that the results of the inquiry be made public at the earliest possible moment and I have made my views known to the chief executive officer.

I am informed by the health board concerned with the "West of Ireland Farmer" case that the work of the review group established to review the board's involvement in the case has been suspended on legal advice pending the outcome of civil legal action by the victims concerned.

The Deputy will also be aware of the investigation into the operation of Madonna House which was commissioned by the Sisters of Charity. As I have already indicated to the House, the report of this investigation was referred for legal advice with a view to determining how much of it could be published, without undue risk of legal complications. In the light of the legal advice available to me on this matter my Department is preparing a report on the investigation. This report will be ready shortly for referral to the Attorney General for clearance to publish. It is not possible at this stage to give any indication as to when any of these reports will be discussed by Dáil Éireann.