Vol. 523 No. 4
140 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of submissions received by the working group on elderly abuse following the national advertisements seeking such submissions; the current position on processing the submissions; when the group is expected to finalise its report on these submissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21421/00]
On 13, 16 and 17 April this year, the working group on elder abuse advertised nationally an invitation to interested groups and individuals to submit their views on how policies, procedures and guidelines for the detection and management of elder abuse might best be developed.
The working group has received 73 submissions following the placement of the advertisements. A draft report on the submissions has been prepared to inform the members of the working group in carrying out their terms of reference.
A summary report on the submissions will be included in the working group's report to me. This report will advise me on the development of policies, procedures and guidelines for the detection and management of elder abuse.
The report will be completed following the testing of draft policies, procedures and guidelines in pilot projects to be introduced in two locations for a period of nine months from January 2001. It is envisaged that a report will be made to me towards the end of next year, when the evaluated results of the pilot projects are available.
