Bernard Allen
Ceist:236 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of child sexual abuse validated by the country's eight health boards in 1991; and the number of prosecutions which were implemented on those cases.
Written Answers. - Child Sexual Abuse Cases.
Bernard Allen
Ceist:237 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of child sexual abuse validated by the country's eight health boards in 1990; and the number of prosecutions which were implemented on those cases.
Bernard Allen
Ceist:238 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of child sexual abuse validated by the country's eight health boards in 1989; and the number of prosecutions which were implemented on those cases.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 236, 237 and 238 together.
The number of confirmed cases of child sexual abuse known to the health boards in 1989 was 568. There is an unavoidable time lag between the receipt of a report of alleged child sexual abuse and the completion of inquiries by the health boards. As a result, collection of statistics in respect of 1990 and 1991 is not yet complete but the indications are that the number of confirmed cases in those years were of a similar level to 1989.
Neither my Department nor the health boards are responsible for collecting information on criminal prosecutions in respect of child sexual abuse. I would suggest that the Deputy might take up this aspect with the Garda authorities.