Peadar Clohessy
Question:36 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has in relation to the introduction of mandatory reporting of child abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20467/96]
Written Answers. - Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse.
The consultation process on mandatory reporting which I initiated last February with the launch of Putting Children First, the discussion document on mandatory reporting, culminated in The Reporting of Child Abuse — The Contribution of Mandatory Reporting, a consultative forum which I hosted in the Grand Hotel, Malahide, on 16 September last.
Over 200 submissions from groups and individuals were received in response to Putting Children First. The submissions examined, not only the question of mandatory reporting but also provided a useful information and commentary on other aspects of our child protection services. Every person or group who made a submission was invited to the forum. The submissions reflected a wide diversity of views on mandatory reporting and this divergence of opinion was also in evidence at the consultative forum.
The morning session of the forum was addressed by speakers representatives of the medical, social service, educational and judicial areas, from both the statutory and voluntary sectors. The afternoon session comprised a series of workshops with delegates free to contribute their opinions. The views expressed reflected a spectrum of opinion, but the majority expressed reservation or opposition to mandatory reporting. There was widespread agreement that further development of our child care services is required to ensure that children and professionals can report abuse in the knowledge that appropriate investigation, treatment and support services are available to victims. However, the idea of mandatory co-operation between agencies as a means of addressing the problems that currently exist in relation to the reporting of child abuse received much attention and support.
The arguments surrounding mandatory reporting of child abuse are complex and concern such issues as the most effective use of resources, professional judgment, the types of abuse that should be subject to mandatory reporting and who should become mandated reporters. It is because of the complexity and importance of these issues that I have engaged in a lengthy consultation process on the subject. Detailed work analysing the conclusions of these workshops is under way and, as I have previously announced, I will be making a decision in relation to reporting arrangements for cases of child abuse by the end of the year.