Vol. 552 No. 4
31 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children the estimated number of children who may have been subjected to sexual abuse over the past 30 years; if he has satisfied himself that there are sufficient counselling and support systems in place to assist victims of sexual abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12549/02]
The figures the Deputy seeks are not readily available within my Department. However, over the three years 1998 – 2000 there has been an average of 2,341 reports to the health boards reporting suspected child sexual abuse. Approximately 40% of these are confirmed by the health boards as abuse having taken place.
The recently launched SAVI Report has found that one in five women, 20%, reported experiencing contact sexual abuse in childhood. The report also states that one in six men, 16%, reported experiencing contact sexual abuse in childhood.
We are continuing to learn how best to treat victims of sexual abuse, both at a personal and professional level. I am aware that rape and sexual assault can have a traumatic effect on victims and services must be in a position to respond accordingly. A national counselling service has been established in each of the ten health boards to provide confidential counselling to victims of abuse in childhood and receives funding of €5.080 million annually. Over 40 counsellors have been recruited nationally and demand for their service is increasing steadily.
I have also arranged for the provision of counselling services to victims of past abuse who are resident in the United Kingdom with the Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy, ICAP, based in London. ICAP is an independent, non-sectarian, non-political counseling-psychotherapy service, located in North London serving all areas of London and the UK. The service has 81 clinical staff throughout the UK at present and one of its principal aims is at providing culturally sensitive services to people of Irish descent.
