Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 5

Written Answers. - Specialist Services for Children.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

52 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health the current specialist services available to deal with child sexual abuse, both hospital and community-based, in Dublin city, north and southside; and the plans, if any, he has for the future development of such services in the future. [11564/97]

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

Two hospital based units in Dublin deal with child sexual abuse. Temple Street Children's Hospital deals with cases from the northside of Dublin and Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, deals with cases from the southside of Dublin as well as Wicklow and Kildare.

In addition to confirmation of abuse, the development of a treatment service for children who have been sexually abused is important so that an integrated service is available for victims. Until recently treatment services in the Eastern Health Board region were underdeveloped. In 1995, I provided a capital grant of £650,000 to Our Lady's Hospital for a new therapeutic unit. This grant facilitated the provision of an integrated assessment and treatment service for children who have been sexually abused.

In 1996, I approved funding of £75,000 amounting to £150,000 in a full year for the development of a similar integrated service for victims of child sexual abuse in the northside of the city. Discussions are currently ongoing between Temple Street Children's Hospital and the Eastern Health Board in relation to this development.

In addition to these services, community care social workers and child care workers play a major part in the investigation, assessment and rehabilitation of children who have been sexually abused. In this regard community based family centres are part of the service network and any individual may avail of the social work service in their community care area.

Regular meetings are held between the community care teams and the two hospital units to review procedures and practice in this whole area.