Vol. 488 No. 7
232 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children if there is a register for children who seem to be at risk in each health board area; if so, the process for deciding to place a child on the register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7106/98]
Health boards currently maintain lists of suspected and confirmed cases of child abuse in accordance with the 1987 child abuse guidelines. Their purpose is to monitor and follow-up on reported cases of children at risk and to provide data for research and planning. When families with children who are considered to be at risk change residence and move to another health board area, the information on the list is passed on to the relevant health board.
The report of the Kilkenny incest investigation acknowledged current practice in this regard and recommended the standardisation of child abuse registers and the introduction of certain safeguards into the system. I have recently established a working group to review the child abuse guidelines and an examination of the current system of child abuse registers will be undertaken in the light of issues that arise in that review.
