I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 to 177, inclusive, together.
Tusla, along with other agencies, provides counselling and support to children and families availing of the Agency's services including children who have been abused sexually. I am advised by Tusla that it does not collect data on waiting times for children to access counselling services.
Where children have suffered sexual abuse, therapy services are available in a variety of settings. There are specialist sexual abuse Centres at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and Temple Street Children's University Hospital. Therapy services are also provided by HSE community based psychologists and HSE Child And Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) for children who have moderate to severe mental health problems. If a child is taken into care as a result of sexual abuse the allocated social worker will provide counselling and support.
In addition, the Assessment, Consultation & Therapy Service
(CTS) is a national specialised clinical service which has been developed in order to provide multidisciplinary consultation, assessment and focused interventions to young people who have high risk behaviours associated with complex clinical needs. ACTS also supports other professionals in their ongoing work with young people and their families.
This includes:
- on-site therapeutic services to young people in secure settings in Ireland (Special Care and the Children Detention Schools)
- support when young people return to community settings to help them to re-engage with mainstream services as appropriate
- assessment, consultation and/or intervention services in the community for children at significant risk of placement in secure settings.
I have asked Tusla to provide any available data in respect of other specific matters raised by the Deputy.