The primary focus of the health boards in the area of child sexual abuse relates to the provision of appropriate assessment, support and therapeutic services for the unfortunate victims of such abuse.
Arising out of the work being undertaken in this area, it has emerged that a significant proportion of child sexual abuse is being perpetrated by adolescents. In response to this, services targeted at adolescent abusers are beginning to be developed. In the Dublin area, the Northside Inter-Agency Project made up of staff from Temple Street and the Mater Hospitals and the Eastern Health Board, operates a treatment programme for adolescent abusers. The programme, based on a groupwork model, involves weekly sessions over the course of a year and requires the active involvement of parents. I understand that the experience of the programme has been very successful and it is hoped that it will deter these adolescents from further involvement in child abuse.
I should also mention that additional funding has recently been provided to Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin to develop a therapeutic service for children affected by child sexual abuse. As part of the new service, which is multi-disciplinary in nature, and involves close liaison with other relevant agencies, the hospital intends to develop a programme aimed at adolescent perpetrators of child sexual abuse.