Brendan Howlin
Ceist:90 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that adequate support and treatment centres for child victims of sexual abuse, exist throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Support and Treatment Centres.
I am satisfied that adequate arrangements are now in place throughout the country for the investigation of alleged cases of child sexual abuse and for the treatment of children who have suffered such abuse.
As far as the Eastern Health Board area is concerned, units for the investigation and management of alleged child sexual abuse were established early in 1988 at Temple Street Hospital and Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin.
During 1988, a special allocation of £0.5 million from the national lottery surplus was made to each of the other seven health boards to enable them to establish appropriate services in their areas. Services are now in place in each health board area; some of them are based in a particular hospital in the region while others are provided on a community basis. An allocation of £0.5 million from the national lottery was made in 1989 for the continuation of these services and I am about to issue further allocations for the 12 month period up to June 1991.
Information concerning the identification and management of child abuse, both physical and sexual has also been provided in the child abuse guidelines which were issued by my Department.
While I am satisfied with the range of assessment/treatment services that are now available, I am conscious of the need for improvements in the areas of child psychiatry and residential provision. It is my intention to develop new and improved services in these areas as available resources permit.
I might also mention that the Child Care Bill, 1988, which has now completed its passage through Committee Stage, contains a number of provisions which are relevant to the problem of child sexual abuse. These will facilitate immediate intervention by the Garda and by health boards where children are in serious danger and will enable the courts to place children who have been assaulted, ill-treated, neglected or sexually abused in the care of or under the supervision of health boards.