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Child Abuse.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 December 2004

Thursday, 2 December 2004

Questions (142, 143)

Mary Upton

Question:

136 Dr. Upton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a group was established in 1994 to review the operation of guidelines for reporting child abuse with regard to children in State care; if the group’s attention has been drawn to allegations relating to residential centres under the control of the Department of Education and Science; if she will publish the report of the group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31863/04]

View answer

Written answers

I am not aware of any group established in 1994 or any group currently in place to review the operation of guidelines for reporting child abuse with regard to children in State care.

It is assumed that the Deputy may be referring to the group established in 1994 to prepare guidelines on standards in children's residential centres in preparation for the introduction of the regulations on this issue. This group completed it work and the Child Care (Standards in Children's Residential Centres) Regulations 1996 and Guide to Good Practice in Children's Residential Centres were published in 1996. The recommendations of the report on the inquiry into the operation of Madonna House was published as part of the document. The group did not have any role relating to residential centres under the control of the Department of Education and Science.

Standards entitled "National Standards for Children's Residential Centres", developed by my Department and the social services inspectorate in conjunction with the health boards, were published in 2001 based on the relevant legislation and guidance and good practice. It is against these standards, which include standards on safeguarding and child protection, that the social services inspectorate and the registration and inspection units of the health boards inspect and form judgments about the quality of children's residential care services.

Mary Upton

Question:

137 Dr. Upton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to a report which was commissioned in 1996 regarding the treatment afforded to a person (details supplied) when help was sought from the State on this person’s behalf; if she will publish the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31864/04]

View answer

Responsibility for the institution concerned lies with the Department of Education and Science. Neither the Department of Education and Science nor the Department of Health and Children commissioned a report in 1996 regarding allegations concerning the institution.

Question No. 138 answered with QuestionNo. 69.
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