Vol. 483 No. 2
12 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Health and Children whether he will replace the 1987 guidelines on procedures for the identification, investigation and management of child abuse of his Department with new guidelines. [19859/97]
44 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children whether he will replace the 1987 guidelines on procedures for the identification, investigation and management of child abuse of his Department with new guidelines. [19858/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 44 together.
As I indicated in reply to a question on 12 November, it is my intention to initiate a review of the 1987 child abuse guidelines produced by the Department of Health and Children. The review will also examine the need for changes in the document entitled Notification of Suspected Cases of Child Abuse between Health Board and Gardaí, which was published in 1995 and dealt with the circumstances in which the health boards and the Garda are to notify suspected cases of child abuse to each other and the consultation that should take place between both agencies following such a notification.
I intend that a working group will be established shortly to progress this matter.
