asked the Minister for Health the number of children listed by each health board as suspected victims of non-accidental injury inflicted by parents and at risk of further injury; and the number of such children in each health board area currently (a) in either residential or foster care; and (b) residing with their parents.
Written Answers. - Non-Accidental Injury to Children.
109.
The most up-to-date information available in my Department relates to 31 December 1985 when the number of suspected victims of, or children at risk of non-accidental injury on the lists maintained by the directors of community care were as set out in the following tabular statement:
|
Health Board |
Number of Children suspected victims of N.I. on the D.C.C.'s lists |
|
Eastern |
74 |
|
Midland |
28 |
|
Mid-Western |
28 |
|
North-Eastern |
18 |
|
North-Western |
18 |
|
South-Eastern |
63 |
|
Southern |
28 |
|
Western |
27 |
The figure for the Eastern Health Board relates to the lists of only seven of the ten directors of community care, in the board's area. I will arrange to have the total figure forwarded to the Deputy as soon as details from the three outstanding areas are available.
Because of the format of the survey of non-accidental injury conducted by my Department each year, it is not possible to identify the children on the lists who have been received into care. There is also no distinction made between cases where injury was inflicted by parents or by other residents in the family home.