Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 3

Written Answers. - Children at Risk Statistics.

Séamus Hughes

Ceist:

103 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health the number of notifications received since 1990 from other jurisdictions identifying children at possible risk, who recently resided in those jurisdictions; and the procedures, if any, which operate between his Department and health boards to monitor developments in such circumstances. [6120/96]

Séamus Hughes

Ceist:

104 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health the bilateral arrangements, if any, with other jurisdictions for the sharing of information between relevant authorities when children are or are suspected of being at risk. [6121/96]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr. Currie)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 104 together.

Numbers of notifications received form other jurisdictions indicating possible children at risk received by my Department are as follows:

1991	21
1992	12
1993	26
1994	26
1995	41

Notifications received by my Department are forwarded immediately to the relevant health board or board which take any necessary action in accordance with their statutory responsibility with regard to the welfare of children in their area. The health boards also receive notifications directly from child welfare authorities in other jurisdictions. Details of these notifications are not recorded in my Department.

Notifications indicating possible children at risk are also received from the International Social Services, a body under the auspices of the United Nations, which seeks to resolve socio-legal problems of individuals and families resulting from migration and international mobility. This body passes such notifications directly to health boards through its contact person who is an official of my Department. Only a small number of notifications are received through the work of this body and the majority of its cases concern questions of custody and access to children.

Previously existing arrangements with Northern Ireland child care services were formalised in 1995 with the adoption of a Protocol in relation to the exchange of information about possible children at risk. This Protocol provides for direct contact between the relevant health board in the Republic and the health and social services board or trust in Northern Ireland. It is proposed to formalise the arrangements with other jurisdictions in the near future.