Vol. 493 No. 3
281 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he will take to sufficiently resource the regional health boards in order that they might be in a position to provide counselling and a help-line service for adults who may have been abused within swimming or within other sports as has been recommended in the report of the independent inquiry into matters relating to child sexual abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15842/98]
Health boards provide services for persons who have been the victims of abuse and they are currently resourced for this purpose. Adult victims of abuse may avail of counselling through the psychiatric services, psychology services or social work services. With regard to abuse within swimming, the Eastern Health Board set up a free phone help line for abuse victims in February 1998. The help line was available for one week from 9 to 13 February, from 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. each day and 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. The volume of calls to the help line did not indicate that it was required for any further period at that stage. The board has established other help lines required during the last number of years. Callers to this help line from other health board areas were referred to the appropriate service in their own boards. Health board personnel liaise in relation to such referrals.
