Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012
1240 Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of alleged elder abuse cases reported to the Health Information and Quality Authority in the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18156/12]
View answer1241 Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of persons who were trained in dealing with victims of elder abuse in the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18157/12]
View answer1244 Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the amount spent in the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 by him on education materials and awareness campaigns on elder abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18160/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1240, 1241 and 1244 together.
The staffing structure provides for 32 Social Workers (Senior Case Workers) and 4 Dedicated Elder Abuse Officers. Among the responsibilities of the Senior Case Worker, in conjunction with the appropriate health service providers, is the assessment/investigation and provision of supports, where necessary, in relation to suspected cases of elder abuse. The duties of Dedicated Elder Abuse Officers include overseeing, reviewing and development of policies at local and national level.
Each year since 2009, the HSE has published a detailed report on developments in the HSE elder abuse service. It outlines current structures, work undertaken in the previous year and provides a detailed analysis of statistics in relation to elder abuse referrals during the previous year. The reports also identify the various training and awareness programmes undertaken by the HSE. The reports are available on the HSE website at http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/Find_a_Service/ Older_People_Services/Elder_Abuse/Resources1/. In addition, statistical information relating to elder abuse referrals has been included in the HSE’s National Service Plan and in the Performance Monitoring Reports (reported on a quarterly basis) since 2010. These reports are also available on the HSE website.
As the Deputy's question also relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
