Vol. 486 No. 2
44 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he intends to take to implement the Government's promise to provide for mandatory reporting of child abuse in the context of statements made by the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs to the recent United Nations Committee meeting to consider this State's compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. [2044/98]
45 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children whether the Government will introduce mandatory reporting of child abuse; and, if so, when this will occur. [2125/98]
80 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he intends to take to implement the Government's promise to provide for mandatory reporting of child abuse in the context of statements made by the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs to the recent United Nations Committee meeting to consider this State's compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. [2043/98]
144 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, it is now intended to take to implement the Government's promise to provide for mandatory reporting of child abuse in the context of statements made by the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs to the recent United Nations Committee meeting to consider this State's compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. [2336/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 45, 80 and 144 together.
As I explained to the House last year I am adopting a broad approach to the issue of improving the reporting of child abuse. The mandatory reporting of child abuse is a commitment in the programme for the millennium which will be introduced in the life of the Government. I regard it as essential that this be done in a way which will have wide support from the professions who will have to comply with the requirement and which will produce a reporting scheme that is effective, efficient and sensitive to the needs of children in this country. I also consider that considerable additional investment in our child care services will be required in advance of the introduction of mandatory reporting.
I have already announced my intention of continuing to progress the initiatives to strengthen arrangements for reporting of child abuse as outlined in Putting Children First — Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Children. At present I am in the process of establishing a working group to review the 1987 and 1995 child abuse guidelines. I consider this to be a crucial first step in creating an environment which will help to facilitate the reporting of child abuse. We have seen enormous changes in regard to the level of awareness of child abuse in the last ten years and a considerable expansion of services to protect vulnerable children. Our knowledge of this complex area has increased and the time is now opportune to review these guidelines.
The working group will have an independent chairperson and will include representatives of the following agencies: Department of Health and Children; Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; Department of Education and Science; Health boards; Garda Síochána; Children's Rights Alliance/voluntary sector; Irish College of General Practitioners; Irish Association of Social Workers; Resident Managers Association; Impact; and the INTO.
I will be announcing the membership of the group and its terms of reference next week.
