Austin Currie
Question:400 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will honour the Government's commitment to introduce mandatory reporting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26376/01]
Written Answers. - Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse.
The Government is committed to putting into place effective strategies and services to promote and protect the welfare of children. In addition to the development of a comprehensive national children's strategy in November 2000, the publication of Children First – National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children, in September 1999 was an important milestone in this regard. Other policy developments have taken place in regard to strengthening family support services, including the establishment, expansion and evaluation of the Springboard projects, the establishment of the Social Services Inspectorate, the publication of the report of the working group on foster care in May 2001, the enactment of the Children Act, 2001, and the launch of the youth homelessness strategy in October 2001.
The programme for Government included a commitment to mandatory reporting of child abuse and a draft White Paper on this subject is at an advanced stage of preparation in my Department at present. However, following consultation with other Departments and the Attorney General's office, a number of important legal and constitutional issues have been raised. These are being examined by my Department's legal advisers. It is planned to bring the draft White Paper to Government as soon as the issues identified have been resolved.