Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 21 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 8

Written Answers. - Crime Prevention.

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

13 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice her views on whether there is a need to create task forces in each county comprising of members of the Garda Síochána and other agencies, such as health board officials, in order to combat the growing incidence of child sexual abuse. [21717/96]

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

27 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice if she will establish liaison boards in each county involving the Garda, elected representatives and health board personnel, in order to fight serious crime, such as drug-pushing and child sexual abuse. [21716/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 27 together.

On 21 April 1995, the Minister of State at the Departments of Health, Education and Justice launched a new procedure for the notification of suspected cases of child abuse between health boards and the Garda. This document was finalised following extensive discussions between officers of the Department of Health, my Department, the health boards and senior Garda officers.

The 1995 guidelines represent a major amendment of the 1987 Guidelines — in 1987, the Department of Health issued revised guidelines on procedures for the identification, investigation and management of child abuse. The new procedure clarifies the circumstances in which the health boards and the Garda are to notify one another of suspected cases of physical, sexual or emotional neglect of children and gives guidelines on the consultations that should take place following such a notification. A central feature of the procedure is a standardised notification system between the agencies. I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are satisfied with the way these arrangements are working.

With regard to the issue of drug abuse, the first report of the ministerial task force on demand reduction has recommended the establishment of new structures designed to achieve a more effective co-ordinated delivery of drugs services at national, regional and local level. At national level there is a cabinet drugs committee and a national drugs strategy team to develop the Government's strategy against drugs and oversee its implementation. At regional level there will be regional co-ordinating committees in each health board area, providing a valuable forum for joint planning between the various agencies and the voluntary/community sector.

The ministerial task force has also recommended the establishment of a local drugs task force for each of the 11 areas identified by the report as having the most acute drugs problem. This recommendation has been approved by the Government and is in the process of being implemented.

The local drugs task force will comprise representatives of all relevant agencies, including the health board, the Garda, the probation and welfare service, the relevant local authority, the local youth service and voluntary drug agencies, together with community representatives and a chairperson proposed by the local partnership board and a co-ordinator provided by the relevant health board.

I am aware that throughout the country senior management of the Garda make themselves available to meet public representatives when the need arises.